An overview of how UK law operated during the post-Brexit transition period following the repeal of the European Communities Act 1972 on exit day (11.00 pm (UK time) on 31 January 2020).

The note looks at the savings and modifications under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as amended by the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020), the withdrawal agreement provisions that required these changes to UK law, and the government's powers to make statutory instruments relating to the operation of UK law during the transition period.

For information on UK law after the end of the transition period, see Practice note, UK law after end of post-Brexit transition period: overview and UK legal change post-transition and UK-EU agreements toolkit: Post-transition UK law.