In June, the GOC gave the professional bodies the opportunity to comment on its aims for legislative change under the Health Act. Since then, the secretaries of the bodies have met three times to formulate a reply to the GOC. Representatives of the Association of Optometrists, the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians, the College of Optometrists and the Association of British Dispensing Opticians met the GOC's working party on new statutory regulation with a united response. Half of the 21 measures under discussion have been agreed without any major reservations. They include new restrictions on the sale of plano contact lenses. However, 'more detailed reservations' centre around those areas of policy where a 'clear dividing line is required between the competencies of the GOC and the role of the professional organisations'. It is understood there will be further meetings to make the GOC aware that the guiding principles in some of the topics depend on further details the optical professional bodies can provide. A finalised legislative agreement is expected to go before the GOC in November.