How to read UK legislation
This page covers official UK legislation. Always verify against the current consolidated text at legislation.gov.uk.
This site provides general information only and does not constitute legal or regulatory advice.
Overview
A practical guide to navigating legislation.gov.uk to find, read, and interpret the UK MDR 2002 and its amendments — including the difference between the original and revised (consolidated) text.
legislation.gov.uk — the authoritative source
All UK legislation, including the UK MDR 2002 and its amending instruments, is available free of charge at legislation.gov.uk. This is the authoritative source for UK statutory instruments and primary legislation.
Original vs Revised text
legislation.gov.uk offers two versions of most legislation:
Original (as enacted/made): The text as originally passed — without any subsequent amendments applied. For the UK MDR 2002, the original text reflects the 2002 version and does not include post-Brexit changes.
Revised (current version): The text as currently in force — incorporating all amendments. For regulatory compliance purposes, always use the Revised version. This shows what the law actually says today.
To see the revised text: navigate to the UK MDR 2002 on legislation.gov.uk, click "Revised" at the top, and select a revision date (typically the current date).
Navigating a statutory instrument
UK statutory instruments (SIs) are structured as:
- Citation and commencement — the SI's name and when it comes into force
- Amendments — each regulation that amends the parent instrument, referenced by regulation number
- Schedules — tables, lists, or detailed provisions appended to the main body
For complex SIs like the UK MDR 2002, understanding the relationship between the main regulations and the Schedules (which contain the Essential Requirements, classification rules, and conformity assessment annexes) is essential.
Key navigation tips
- Use the "Contents" panel on legislation.gov.uk to jump to specific Parts, regulations, and Schedules
- Use Ctrl+F (Find) to search within the page for specific terms
- Click "Show Explanatory Note" at the bottom of an SI for a plain-language summary of its effect
- Use the "Changes to legislation" tab to see all amendments applied to the original text
Official references
| Reference | Description |
|---|---|
| legislation.gov.uk | UK legislation database |
| UK MDR 2002 on legislation.gov.uk | Direct link to the UK MDR 2002 |
| legislation.gov.uk guidance | How to use the legislation database |