HL Deb 18 November 2004 vol 666 cc215-6WA
Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the Cosmetic Products (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations, made on 8 September, are numbered 2004/2361 when the Regulatory Reform (Patents) Order, made on 22 September is numbered 2004/2357. [HL4976]

Lord Sainsbury of Turville

In order to comply with Cabinet Office guidelines the Patent Office had to give the public "at least 84 days" notice before the Regulatory Reform (Patents) Order 2004 comes into force on 1 January 2005. The notice informing interested parties of the order was therefore published in the 6 October issue of the Patents and Designs Journal.

However, in order to ensure that the notice appeared on this date the number of the order had to be obtained some time in advance not only of the journal's publication, but also of the date that the order was made. This resulted in an earlier number being allocated to the RRO than for the Cosmetic Product (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations.