The Scottish Parliament has passed a bill that allows Scottish law to be brought on par with future EU regulations.
Following the end of the transition period on 31st December, the Sottish Parliament will be in control of setting standards currently controlled by Brussels. Regulations surrounding the environment, food standards and human rights will be controlled by Holyrood.
The UK Withdrawal from the EU (Continuity) Bill will allow Scotland to align standards with EU laws and regulations, but will mean it will potentially not be in line with the rest of the UK.
The SNP Government have said that the EU “will continue to be of fundamental importance to Scotland” and that it wants to “do everything it can to be an active and constructive participant on EU matters”, even post-Brexit.
The bill passed by 90 votes to 29. The Scottish Labour Party joined the Green Party and the Liberal Democrats in supporting the Bill put forward by the Scottish Nationalist Party.
Constitution secretary Michael Russell said: “We have heard the ambition of the people of Scotland to retain the closest links with the EU and to continue to meet the high European standards that presently serve us so well.
“It is completely unacceptable that Scotland has been taken out of the EU, but this Bill makes a start, at least, on meeting those ambitions.
“It will enable us, in devolved areas at least, to maintain alignment with Europe, when appropriate and practicable to do so.”
However, the Scottish Conservative Party’s Economy Spokesman, Dean Lockhart, said that keeping up with the EU legislation while having to monitor the rest of the UK’s regulations would only “increase the expense and complexity of doing business” in Scotland.
