What is regulation
Regulation is a set of rules which have been developed and enshrined in an Act of Parliament so they are law.
The Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, outlines the rules about who can and who cannot practice a particular health service if it is covered by the Act.
This is to make sure that there is a certain level of competence amongst those who practice in that health service and to prevent those who are not competent from being at risk of harming the public.
The rules also cover the setting up of a group (the Responsible Authority) which oversees a range of activities such as making sure practitioners are competent in the first place and then maintain their competence