These Regulations may be cited as the Postal Services (EC Directive) Regulations 2002.

These Regulations have effect for the purpose of implementing the Directive of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union of 15th December 1997 (No.97/67/EC) on common rules for the development of the internal market of Community postal services and the improvement of quality of service3 as amended by the Directive of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union of 10th June 2002 (No.2002/39/EC) with regard to the further opening to competition of Community postal services4.

In these Regulations “the Act” means the Postal Services Act 20005.

Subject to paragraph (5), these Regulations shall come into force on 1st January 2003.

Regulation 8 shall come into force on 1st January 2006.