14 March 2019
The General Optical Council (GOC) has published answers to frequently asked questions about the impact of Britain leaving the European Union (EU) on its website.
The guidance covers the implications of Brexit for registration requirements, continuing education and training completed abroad, CE-marked products and EU staff working in optical practices.
Other topics include providing services to visitors from the EU after Brexit, the potential workforce ramifications and what practitioners should do if they are unable to get hold of a licensed medicine or medical device following Brexit.
The GOC published the information on 12 March, with the intention of updating the page “regularly as the Brexit negotiations progress.”
The AOP has also published guidance around the impact of Brexit on optics.
Registration of non-EU optometrists
A policy introduced in June last year that requires optometrists from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) to complete the College of Optometrists’ full Scheme for Registration has resulted in the enrolment of 13 applicants to date.
The policy, which was discussed at a GOC meeting in May last year, will be reviewed again subject to the outcome of the Education Strategic Review.
A GOC spokesperson confirmed that if Britain leaves the EU without an agreement, it is possible that both EEA and non-EEA optometrists would have to follow the same route to registration.
Image credit: Pixabay
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