This Order brings into force on 5th July 1999 certain provisions of the Osteopaths Act 1993 (“the Act”), for the purposes of–

• enabling the Registrar of the General Osteopathic Council (“the GOsC”), to investigate and deal with fraudulently obtained and incorrect entries in the register of osteopaths (section 10); and

• enabling the Investigating Committee of the GOsC to investigate allegations relating to a registered osteopath’s fitness to practise and to suspend the osteopath’s registration, for a period not exceeding two months, if it considers it necessary to do so in order to protect members of the public (sections 1(5)(b), (7) and (9), 7(1) and (2), 20 and 21).

• The Order also brings into force the following provisions of the Act–

  • sections 27 and 28, which provide for the appointment by the GOsC of (respectively) legal and medical assessors with functions as set out in those sections;

  • section 41, in respect of certain remaining definitions; and

  • certain provisions of the Schedule so far as they relate to the Investigating Committee.