29Placement of child with prospective adoptive parents

29 Placement of child with prospective adoptive parents

(1)  The Secretary or a principal officer is to place a child who is available for adoption with a prospective adoptive parent who, in accordance with the Act, is eligible to have a child placed with him or her for the purposes of adoption and who, in the opinion of the Secretary or principal officer –

(a) is, of the prospective adoptive parents, best able to meet the needs of the child; and

(b) so far as is practicable, meet the wishes of the natural parents.

(2)  Arrangements or negotiations with respect to the placement of a child with a prospective adoptive parent with a view to his or her adoption of the child are not to be completed by a principal officer except in consultation with one or more employees qualified as mentioned in regulation 6 .

(3)  In all matters relating to the placement of a child with a view to adoption, the Secretary or a principal officer must have regard to sections 8 and 17 of the Act.