These Regulations further amend the Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/192), as amended by S.I. 1998/81 (which is not relevant to this instrument) and S.I. 2001/3766, (the “1996 Regulations”). The 1996 Regulations implemented, in Great Britain, Directive 94/9/EC of the European Parliament and the Council on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.