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Statutory Instruments

2020 No. 1549

Public Health, England

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Testing Requirements and Standards) (England) Regulations 2020cross-notes

Made

16th December 2020

Coming into force

17th December 2020

M1 The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 45C(1) and (3)(c), 45F(2) and 45P(2) of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 .

A draft of this instrument was laid before Parliament in accordance with section 45Q(4) of that Act and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

The Secretary of State considers that the requirements imposed by these Regulations are proportionate to what they seek to achieve, which is a public health response to the serious and imminent threat to public health which is posed by the incidence and spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in England.

Citation, commencement and application I1

1. —(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Testing Requirements and Standards) (England) Regulations 2020 and come into force on the day after the day on which they are made.

(2) These Regulations apply to England only.

Interpretation I2

2. In these Regulations—

F1 ...

applicable test ” means a test to which regulation 3 applies;

[F2 diagnostic laboratory ” means an institution (or facility within an institution) which is equipped with apparatus and reagents for the performance of diagnostic tests for human infections; F2]

[F2 operator of a diagnostic laboratory ” means the corporate body that operates the diagnostic laboratory, or if there is no such body, the director of the diagnostic laboratory; F2]

[F2 point of care test ” means a diagnostic test which is not carried out in a diagnostic laboratory; F2]

[F2 sample collection ” means the taking of, or assisting with or the supervision of the taking of, a physical sample from a person who is the subject of a test; F2]

[F2 testing service provider ” means a person who carries out a sample collection or a point of care test, or a diagnostic laboratory. F2]

F1 ...

F1 ...

Applicable tests I3

3. —(1) An applicable test is a test for the detection of coronavirus which is—

F3 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b) provided [F4 , by or on behalf of a testing service provider, F4] in the course of a business;

(c) M2 not a test provided or administered under the National Health Service Act 2006 ;

(d) not a test provided by a person (P) solely to—

(i) P's employees;

(ii) persons contracted to provide services to P; or

(iii) both of the above; and

[F5 (da) not carried out using a device for self-testing. F5]

F6 (e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2) In this regulation—

(a) coronavirus ” means severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2);

[F7 (aa) device for self-testing ” has the same meaning as in regulation 32(1) of the Medical Devices Regulations 2002. F7]

F8 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Test requirements I4

4. —(1) Any device used for the purposes of an applicable test must meet the following requirements—

(a) M3 it can be put into service in accordance with Part 4 of the Medical Devices Regulations 2002, other than solely by virtue of regulation 39(2) of those Regulations;

F9 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F10 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) In this regulation—

(a) device ” means an in vitro diagnostic medical device within the meaning given in regulation 2(1) of the Medical Devices Regulations 2002;

F11 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F12 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Provider requirements I5

F155. —(1) A [F13testing service providerF13] must [F14 be accredited to the relevant ISO Standard by a signatory to the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation Mutual Recognition Arrangement F14] in respect of any applicable test ....

[F16 (1A) The relevant ISO Standard for the purposes of paragraph (1) is—

(a) in relation to sample collection or a point of care test, ISO Standard 15189:2022 ;

(b) in relation to a diagnostic laboratory, either ISO Standard 15189:2022 or ISO/IEC Standard 17025:2017 . F16]

F17 (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F17 (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F17 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F17 (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F17 (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F17 (7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

UKAS accreditation

F186. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Offence and penalties I6

F217. —(1) A [F19testing service provider or an operator of a diagnostic laboratoryF19] commits an offence if, without reasonable excuse, they contravene a requirement imposed under regulation [F20 4 or F20] 5 ....

(2) An offence under this regulation is punishable on summary conviction by a fine.

Review I7

8. The Secretary of State must review the effectiveness of the provisions made by these Regulations before the expiry of the period of six months beginning with the day after the day on which they come into force.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

Bethell

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State,

Department of Health and Social Care

Status: There are currently no known outstanding effects for the The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Testing Requirements and Standards) (England) Regulations 2020.
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Testing Requirements and Standards) (England) Regulations 2020 (2020/1549)

Displaying information

Status of this instrument

footnotecommentarytransitional and savingsin force statusrelated provisionsgeo extentinsert/omitsource countin force adj
C1Regulations applied (with modifications) (24.10.2021 at 4.00 a.m.) by S.I. 2021/582 , Sch. 8 para. 7B(3) (as inserted by The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel and Operator Liability) (England) (Amendment) (No. 16) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/1179) , regs. 1(2) , 10(5) )
F1Words in reg. 2 omitted (1.1.2024) by virtue of The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Testing Requirements and Standards) (England) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1340) , regs. 1(1) , 3(2) (with reg. 9 )this amendment (text omitted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.omitted
F2Words in reg. 2 inserted (1.1.2024) by The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Testing Requirements and Standards) (England) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1340) , regs. 1(1) , 3(3) (with reg. 9 )this amendment (text inserted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.inserted
F3Reg. 3(1)(a) omitted (1.1.2024) by virtue of The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Testing Requirements and Standards) (England) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1340) , regs. 1(1) , 4(2)(a) (with reg. 9 )this amendment (text omitted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.omitted
F4Words in reg. 3(1)(b) inserted (1.1.2024) by The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Testing Requirements and Standards) (England) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1340) , regs. 1(1) , 4(2)(b) (with reg. 9 )this amendment (text inserted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.inserted
F5Reg. 3(1)(da) inserted (1.1.2024) by The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Testing Requirements and Standards) (England) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1340) , regs. 1(1) , 4(2)(c) (with reg. 9 )this amendment (text inserted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.inserted
F6Reg. 3(1)(e) omitted (1.1.2024) by virtue of The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Testing Requirements and Standards) (England) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1340) , regs. 1(1) , 4(2)(d) (with reg. 9 )this amendment (text omitted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.omitted
F7Reg. 3(2)(aa) inserted (1.1.2024) by The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Testing Requirements and Standards) (England) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1340) , regs. 1(1) , 4(3)(a) (with reg. 9 )this amendment (text inserted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.inserted
F8Reg. 3(2)(b) omitted (1.1.2024) by virtue of The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Testing Requirements and Standards) (England) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1340) , regs. 1(1) , 4(3)(b) (with reg. 9 )this amendment (text omitted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.omitted
F9Reg. 4(1)(b) omitted (1.1.2024) by virtue of The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Testing Requirements and Standards) (England) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1340) , regs. 1(1) , 5(2) (with reg. 9 )this amendment (text omitted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.omitted
F10Reg. 4(2) omitted (1.1.2024) by virtue of The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Testing Requirements and Standards) (England) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1340) , regs. 1(1) , 5(3) (with reg. 9 )this amendment (text omitted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.omitted
F11Reg. 4(3)(b) omitted (1.1.2024) by virtue of The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Testing Requirements and Standards) (England) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1340) , regs. 1(1) , 5(4) (with reg. 9 )this amendment (text omitted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.omitted
F12Reg. 4(3)(c) omitted (1.1.2024) by virtue of The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Testing Requirements and Standards) (England) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1340) , regs. 1(1) , 5(4) (with reg. 9 )this amendment (text omitted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.omitted
F13Words in reg. 5(1) substituted (1.1.2024) by The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Testing Requirements and Standards) (England) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1340) , regs. 1(1) , 6(2)(a) (with reg. 9 )this amendment (text substituted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.substituted
F14Words in reg. 5(1) substituted (1.1.2024) by The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Testing Requirements and Standards) (England) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1340) , regs. 1(1) , 6(2)(b) (with reg. 9 )this amendment (text substituted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.substituted
F15Words in reg. 5(1) omitted (1.1.2024) by virtue of The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Testing Requirements and Standards) (England) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1340) , regs. 1(1) , 6(2)(c) (with reg. 9 )this amendment (text omitted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.omitted
F16Reg. 5(1A) inserted (1.1.2024) by The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Testing Requirements and Standards) (England) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1340) , regs. 1(1) , 6(3) (with reg. 9 )this amendment (text inserted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.inserted
F17Reg. 5(2)-(7) omitted (1.1.2024) by virtue of The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Testing Requirements and Standards) (England) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1340) , regs. 1(1) , 6(4) (with reg. 9 )this amendment (text omitted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.omitted
F18Reg. 6 omitted (1.1.2024) by virtue of The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Testing Requirements and Standards) (England) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1340) , regs. 1(1) , 7 (with reg. 9 )this amendment (text omitted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.omitted
F19Words in reg. 7(1) substituted (1.1.2024) by The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Testing Requirements and Standards) (England) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1340) , regs. 1(1) , 8(2)(a) (with reg. 9 )this amendment (text substituted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.substituted
F20Words in reg. 7(1) substituted (1.1.2024) by The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Testing Requirements and Standards) (England) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1340) , regs. 1(1) , 8(2)(b) (with reg. 9 )this amendment (text substituted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.substituted
F21Words in reg. 7(1) omitted (1.1.2024) by virtue of The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Testing Requirements and Standards) (England) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1340) , regs. 1(1) , 8(2)(c) (with reg. 9 )this amendment (text omitted) should be read in conjunction with other related provisions, see the commentary.omitted
I1Reg. 1 in force at 17.12.2020, see reg. 1(1)
I2Reg. 2 in force at 17.12.2020, see reg. 1(1)
I3Reg. 3 in force at 17.12.2020, see reg. 1(1)
I4Reg. 4 in force at 17.12.2020, see reg. 1(1)
I5Reg. 5 in force at 17.12.2020, see reg. 1(1)
I6Reg. 7 in force at 17.12.2020, see reg. 1(1)
I7Reg. 8 in force at 17.12.2020, see reg. 1(1)
M11984 c. 22 ; Part 2A was inserted by section 129 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (c.14) .
M22006 c. 41 .
M3S.I. 2002/618 , as amended by S.I. 2003/1697 . Further amendments are prospectively made by S.I. 2019/791 with effect from 1st January 2021. There are other amending instruments not relevant to these Regulations.
Defined TermSection/ArticleIDScope of Application
applicable testreg. 2.legTermSvx73PGX
coronavirusreg. 3.legTermbwIfC9MS
devicereg. 4.legTermHrdixCJn
device for self-testingreg. 3.legTermqcy7iVJv
diagnostic laboratoryreg. 2.legTermZejigL0h
operator of a diagnostic laboratoryreg. 2.legTerm4dD05XQf
point of care testreg. 2.legTermjxmHYXPX
sample collectionreg. 2.legTerm9fPOv5xV
testing service providerreg. 2.legTermMYb8pLx9
This instrument is derived from the version at www.legislation.gov.uk. To see a list of all amendments (including any to be made) check the resources page for this instrument on their website. Note, the status of this instrument is given above.
This instrument is derived from the version at www.legislation.gov.uk. To see original commencement information, check the resources page associated with this instrument. n.b. commencement information for marked amendments is embedded in the relevant footnote.

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