These Regulations are made primarily under Part 3 of the Pensions Act 2004 (c. 35) (“the Act”). Together with provisions in that Part, they implement article 15 and the funding requirements in article 16 of European Union Directive 2003/41/EC on the activities and supervision of institutions for occupational retirement provision (OJ No. L 235, 23.9.03, p.10) (“the Directive”). They replace the Occupational Pension Schemes (Minimum Funding Requirement and Actuarial Valuations) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1536), which are revoked together with provisions that amend those Regulations.