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Guideline 48


Provisions providing dates, time-limits, exceptions, derogations and extensions, transitional provisions (in particular those relating to the effects of the Act on the existing law) and final provisions (entry into force - deadlines and temporal application of the Act) should be drafted in precise terms.

48.1. In the absence of express indications to the contrary, a temporal period begins at 00.00 hours on the date indicated.
  48.1.1. The expressions most commonly used to indicate the beginning of a period are:
  • from ... [to] ...
  48.1.2. Entry into force may be expressed as follows:
  • shall enter into force on ...
  48.1.3. The beginning period of efficacy may be expressed as follows: 
  • with effect from ...
  • shall take effect on ...
  • shall have effect from ...
48.2. Except where expressly provided otherwise, a period ends at midnight on the date specified.
  48.2.1. The expressions most commonly used to indicate the end of periods are:
  •  until ...
  • … at the latest
  • [from …] to ...
  48.2.2. The end of being in force may be expressed as follows:
  • shall expire on ...
  48.2.3. The ending period of efficacy may be expressed as follows:
  • shall cease to apply on ...
  • shall apply until the entry into force of ..., or …, whichever is the earlier.
48.3. Provisions for deadlines for the entry into force of other Acts should specify a date expressed as day/month/year.
48.4. In the legislation of some legal systems a distinction is made - according to the legal effects - between the date of entry into force, the date from which provisions are to have effect, and the date of application.
48.5. The date of entry into force, taking effect or application of particular divisions of the Act, should be in accordance with the corresponding dates of the Act as a whole.


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