The Human Medicines Regulations 2012

Requirements for prescriptions: general U.K.

217.—(1) For the purposes of this Chapter, a prescription only medicine is not sold or supplied in accordance with a prescription given by an appropriate practitioner unless the following conditions are met.

(2) Condition A is that the prescription is signed in ink by the appropriate practitioner giving it.

(3) Condition B is that the prescription—

(a) is written in ink or otherwise so as to be indelible; or

(b) in the case of a health prescription which is not for a [F1 product subject to special medical prescription], is written as described in sub-paragraph (a) or by means of carbon paper or similar material.

(4) Condition C is that the prescription contains the following particulars—

(a) the address of the appropriate practitioner giving it;

(b) the appropriate date;

(c) an indication of the kind of appropriate practitioner giving it;

(d) the name and address of the person for whose treatment it is given; and

(e) if that person is under 12, that person's age.

(5) Condition D is that the prescription—

(a) is not dispensed after the end of the period of six months beginning with the appropriate date; or

(b) in the case of a repeatable prescription—

(i) it is not dispensed for the first time after the end of that period, and

(ii) it is dispensed in accordance with the directions contained in the prescription.

(6) Condition E is that, in the case of a repeatable prescription that does not specify the number of times it may be dispensed—

(a) it is not dispensed on more than two occasions, or

(b) in the case of a prescription for an oral contraceptive, it is not dispensed on more than six occasions or after the end of the period of six months beginning with the appropriate date.

(7) In this regulation “appropriate date” means, subject to paragraph (8)—

(a) in the case of a health prescription, whichever is the later of—

(i) the date on which it was signed by the appropriate practitioner giving it, or

(ii) a date indicated by the appropriate practitioner as the date before which it should not be dispensed; and

(b) otherwise, the date on which the prescription was signed by the appropriate practitioner giving it.

(8) This regulation—

(a) does not apply to a prescription given by an [F2 approved country health professional] (as to which see regulation 218); and

(b) is subject to regulation 219 (electronic prescriptions).

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in reg. 217(3)(b) substituted (E.W.S.) (31.3.2014) by The Human Medicines (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/490), regs. 1(2), 5(2)(b) and words in reg. 217(3)(b) substituted (N.I.) (31.3.2014) by The Human Medicines (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.R. 2014/323), regs. 1(2), 5(2)(b)

F2 Words in reg. 217(8)(a) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Human Medicines (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/775), regs. 1, 182; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)