Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 2016

PART 1 N.I. Sale or use of nicotine products and tobacco

Prohibition of sale of nicotine products to persons under 18 N.I.

1—(1) The Department may by regulations make provision prohibiting the sale of nicotine products to persons aged under 18.

(2) A person who breaches a prohibition in regulations under subsection (1) commits an offence.

(3) Subsection (2) does not apply if—

(a) at the time of the sale, the person to whom the nicotine product is sold is employed by a manufacturer of nicotine products to which regulations under subsection (1) apply or by a dealer in such products (whether wholesale or retail); and

(b) the purchase of the product is for the purposes of the manufacturer's or dealer's business.

(4) Where a person is charged with an offence under this section it is a defence that the person took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid committing the offence.

(5) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(6) The Department may by regulations—

(a) amend Article 4A of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 (purchase of tobacco on behalf of persons under 18) so as to apply it (with or without modifications) in relation to nicotine products; or

(b) provide for that Article to apply (with or without modifications) in relation to nicotine products.

Commencement Information

I1 S. 1 in operation at 1.6.2017 by S.R. 2017/91, art. 2(a)

Prohibition of sale of nicotine products from vending machines N.I.

2—(1) The Department may by regulations make provision prohibiting the sale of nicotine products from an automatic machine.

(2) The regulations must make provision as to the persons who are liable in the case of any breach of a prohibition.

(3) A liable person who breaches a prohibition in regulations under subsection (1) commits an offence.

(4) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

Commencement Information

I2 S. 2 in operation at 1.6.2017 by S.R. 2017/91, art. 2(b)

Amendments consequential on sections 1 and 2 N.I.

3—(1) Schedule 1 makes amendments consequential on sections 1 and 2.

(2) The Department may by regulations make provision amending, repealing, revoking or otherwise modifying any statutory provision (whenever passed or made) in connection with provision made by or under section 1 or 2.

Commencement Information

I3 S. 3(1) in operation at 1.2.2022 by S.R. 2021/329, art. 2(a)

I4 S. 3(2) in operation at 1.6.2017 by S.R. 2017/91, art. 2(c)

Amendment of the Order of 1991 N.I.

4  In Article 4A(4) of the Children and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 (prohibition of sale of tobacco from vending machines), for “level 4” substitute “ level 5 ”.

Commencement Information

I5 S. 4 in operation at 1.6.2017 by S.R. 2017/91, art. 2(d) (with art. 3)

Prohibition of use of tobacco or nicotine products in a private vehicle N.I.

5—(1) The Smoking (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 is amended in accordance with subsections (2) to (7).

(2) In Article 6 (smoke-free vehicles)—

(a) after paragraph (1) insert—

“(1A) Regulations under this Article may in particular provide for a private vehicle to be smoke-free where a person under the age of 18 is present in the vehicle.”;

(b) in paragraph (2), for “The regulations” substitute “ Regulations under this Article ”.

(3) In Article 10 (fixed penalties)—

(a) for the heading substitute “ Fixed penalties ”;

(b) in paragraph (1), for “, or in a place or vehicle,” substitute “ or in a place ”;

(c) after paragraph (1) insert—

“(1A) An authorised officer of an enforcement authority who has reason to believe that a person has committed an offence under Article 7(5) or 8(2) in a vehicle in relation to which the authorised officer has functions may give that person a penalty notice in respect of the offence.

(1B) The Department may by regulations provide that, in the circumstances specified in the regulations, an authorised officer of an enforcement authority who has reason to believe that a person has committed an offence under Article 9(3) in relation to a vehicle in relation to which the authorised officer has functions may give the person a penalty notice in respect of the offence.”.

(4) In Article 11 (enforcement)—

(a) for the heading substitute “ Enforcement ”;

(b) in paragraph (1), for “premises, places and vehicles” substitute “ premises and places ”;

(c) after paragraph (1) insert—

“(1A) The Department may make regulations designating the persons or bodies or descriptions of person or body which are to be enforcement authorities for the purposes of enforcing, as respects vehicles, the provisions of this Order and regulations made under it.

(1B) The regulations—

(a) must specify the descriptions of vehicle in relation to which an enforcement authority has functions,

(b) may provide for a case being dealt with by one enforcement authority to be transferred (or further transferred back) to, and taken over by, another enforcement authority.

(1C) It is the duty of an enforcement authority to enforce, as respects the vehicles in relation to which it has enforcement functions, the provisions of this Order and of regulations made under it.”;

(d) in paragraph (2)—

(i) after “district council” insert “ or other enforcement authority ”;

(ii) after “the council” insert “ or other authority ”;

(iii) for “authorised by it” substitute “ authorised by that council or other authority ”.

(5) In Article 12(1) (obstruction of officers), after “district council” insert “ or other enforcement authority ”.

(6) In Article 15(3) (regulations subject to affirmative procedure)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (a), for “or 14” substitute “ , 10(1B) or 14 ”;

(b) in sub-paragraph (b), for “or 8” substitute “ , 8 or 18 ”.

(7) In Schedule 1 (fixed penalties), after paragraph 17 add—

“Power to amend or modify Schedule

18   The Department may by regulations—

(a) amend this Schedule so as to modify its application in relation to penalty notices issued by an authorised officer of an enforcement authority of a particular kind,

(b) provide for this Schedule to apply with modifications in relation to such notices”

(8) The Department may by regulations make provision prohibiting the use of nicotine products in a private vehicle where a person under the age of 18 is present in the vehicle, and such regulations may for that purpose amend, or apply with modifications, the provisions of the Smoking (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 to nicotine products.

Commencement Information

I6 S. 5 in operation at 1.6.2017 for specified purposes by S.R. 2017/91, art. 2(e)

I7 S. 5 in operation at 1.2.2022 in so far as not already in operation by S.R. 2021/329, art. 2(b)

Prospective

Review N.I.

6—(1) The Department must not later than 3 years after the commencement of this section review and publish a report on the implementation of Part 1.

(2) Regulations made by the Department under this section shall set out the terms of the review.

Interpretation of Part 1 N.I.

7—(1) For the purposes of this Part “ nicotine product” means—

(a) a device which is intended to enable nicotine to be consumed by an individual or otherwise to be delivered into the human body;

(b) an item which is intended to form part of a device within paragraph (a); or

(c) a substance or item which consists of or contains nicotine and which is intended for human consumption or otherwise to be delivered into the human body.

(2) It does not matter for the purposes of subsection (1)(a) whether the device is also intended to enable any other substance to be consumed by an individual or otherwise to be delivered into the human body.

(3) The following are not nicotine products for the purposes of this Part—

(a) tobacco;

(b) cigarette papers;

(c) any device which is intended to be used for the consumption of lit tobacco.

(4) In this section “tobacco” has the same meaning as in Part 2 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1978.

Commencement Information

I8 S. 7 in operation at 1.6.2017 by S.R. 2017/91, art. 2(f)

Prospective

PART 2 N.I. Levy on sugar sweetened drinks

Levy on sugar sweetened drinks N.I.

8—(1) The Department must carry out a study on a levy on sugar sweetened drinks within two years of enactment of this Act.

(2) The study required by subsection (1) should include—

(a) a definition of sugar sweetened drinks;

(b) which sugar sweetened drinks should be subject to a levy;

(c) factors to be considered in determining and administering a levy;

(d) the financial rate at which a levy may be set;

(e) the anticipated health and economic impacts of the levy; and

(f) the options for funding measures to address adverse health conditions associated with the consumption of sugary drinks derived from the levy revenue.

PART 3 N.I. Miscellaneous Provisions

Persons performing primary dental services N.I.

9—(1) Section 2(2) of the Act of 2008, which substitutes new Articles 61 to 61F of the Order of 1972, is amended as follows.

(2) Before the new Article 61F (persons providing general dental services), insert new cross-heading “ Persons performing primary dental services ”.

(3) In the new Article 61F—

(a) for the heading substitute “ Persons performing primary dental services ”;

(b) for paragraph (1) substitute—

“(1) Regulations may provide that a health care professional of a prescribed description may not perform any primary dental service for which the Regional Board is responsible unless that professional is included in a list maintained under the regulations by the Regional Board.”;

(c) for paragraph (2)(b) substitute—

“(b) the Regional Board is responsible for a primary dental service if it provides the service, or secures provision of the service, under or by virtue of Article 60A.”.

Ophthalmic services N.I.

10—(1) In Article 62(2) of the Order of 1972 (arrangements for general ophthalmic services), after “shall include provision” insert—

“(a) for the preparation and publication of lists of medical practitioners, and ophthalmic opticians respectively, who undertake to provide general ophthalmic services;

(b) for conferring a right, subject to any provision made under Article 64C and to the provisions of this Order relating to the disqualification of persons providing services, on any medical practitioner having the prescribed qualifications or ophthalmic optician who wishes to be included in the appropriate list, to be so included;

(c) for conferring on any medical practitioner, who is dissatisfied with a determination that he or she does not possess the qualifications prescribed under this Article, a right of appeal to a committee appointed by the Department, and for making provision for any matter for which it appears to the Department to be necessary or expedient to make provision in consequence of the conferring of that right;”.

(2) Omit Article 62A of the Order of 1972.

Pharmaceutical services N.I.

11—(1) Article 63AA of the Order of 1972 (persons providing pharmaceutical services) is amended as follows.

(2) Omit paragraph (1).

(3) In paragraphs (2) and (3), for “Regulations under paragraph (1)” substitute “ Regulations under Article 63 ”.

(4) In paragraph (2), before sub-paragraph (a) insert—

“(za) for the preparation, publication and maintenance of lists of persons, other than medical practitioners or dental practitioners, who undertake to provide pharmaceutical services;”.

(5) After paragraph (3) insert—

“(3A) Regulations under Article 63 shall include provision conferring on such persons as may be prescribed rights of appeal from decisions made by virtue of paragraph (2) or (3).

(3B) Regulations under Article 63 shall be framed as to preclude—

(a) a person included in a list under paragraph (2)(za), and

(b) an employee of such a person,

from taking part in the decision whether an application such as is mentioned in paragraph (2)(b) should be granted or an appeal against such a decision brought by virtue of paragraph (3A) should be allowed.”.

(6) Omit paragraphs (4) and (5).

Disqualification by the Tribunal N.I.

12—(1) Schedule 11 to the Order of 1972 (disqualification of persons providing Part 6 services) is amended as follows—

(a) for paragraph 1(2) substitute—

“(2) Subject to the provisions of this paragraph, if the Tribunal receives from the Regional Board representations that a person who has applied to be included in any list, or who is included in any list, meets any of the conditions for disqualification which may apply in that person's case, the Tribunal must inquire into the case.”;

(b) for paragraph 1(6) substitute—

“(6) The first condition for disqualification is that—

(a) in relation to a list referred to in sub-paragraph (8)(a) or (c), the inclusion or continued inclusion of the person concerned in the list would be prejudicial to the efficiency of the services which those included in the list perform; or

(b) in relation to a list referred to in sub-paragraph (8)(d) or (e), the continued inclusion of the person concerned in the list would be prejudicial to the efficiency of the services which those included in the list undertake to provide.”;

(c) in paragraph 1(7A), at the beginning insert “ Subject to sub-paragraph (7B), ”;

(d) after paragraph 1(7A) insert—

“(7B) The third condition for disqualification only applies to cases where a person is included in, or has applied to be included in, a list referred to in paragraph (8)(a) or (c).”;

(e) in paragraph 1(8)(c), omit “and bodies corporate”;

(f) for paragraph 1(8)(d) substitute—

“(d) a list of medical practitioners and ophthalmic opticians undertaking to provide general ophthalmic services;”;

(g) for paragraph 1(8)(e) substitute—

“(e) a list of persons undertaking to provide pharmaceutical services;”;

(h) in paragraph 1(8A), for “sub-paragraph (8)(a)” substitute “ sub-paragraph (8) ”;

(i) in paragraph 2(1), omit “or, as the case may be, the third condition for disqualification”;

(j) omit paragraph 2(1A);

(k) in paragraph 2(3)(a), omit “, assisting in providing,”;

(l) in paragraph 2(3)(b), omit “assistance in the provision”;

(m) for paragraph 3(2) substitute—

“(2) The Tribunal must disqualify the person for inclusion in the list to which the case relates.”;

(n) in paragraph 4(2)(c)(i), omit “, undertakes to provide or assists in providing”;

(o) in paragraph 4(5)(aa), for “, 61F, 62A or 63AA” substitute “ or 61F ”;

(p) in paragraph 5(4), after “providing,” insert “ approved to assist in providing ”;

(q) in paragraph 7(1)(a), for “, approved to assist in providing or approved to perform” substitute “ or approved to assist in providing ”;

(r) in paragraph 9(8), for “61F, 62A or 63A,” substitute “ or 61F, ”.

(2) Until the coming into operation of section 2 of the Act of 2008, Schedule 11 to the Order of 1972 (as amended by subsection (1)) has effect with the following modifications—

(a) in paragraph 1(6)(a), omit “or (c)”;

(b) in paragraph 1(6)(b), for “(d) or (e)” substitute “ (c), (d) or (e) ”;

(c) in paragraph 1(7B), omit “or (c)”;

(d) for paragraph 1(8)(c) substitute—

“(c) a list of dental practitioners undertaking to provide general dental services”

Provision of medical or dental services: Article 15B arrangements N.I.

F1 13  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 13(1) omitted (1.4.2022) by virtue of Health and Social Care Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (c. 3), s. 8(1)(b), Sch. 1 para. 256; S.R. 2022/102, art. 2(b)

Commencement Information

I9 S. 13 partly in operation; s. 13(3)(a)(i)(5) in operation at 13.6.2016 see s. 20(2)(b)

Charges for services provided to persons not ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland N.I.

14  In Article 42(2) of the Order of 1972 (provision of services to persons not ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland), after “the Department may,” insert “ subject to such exemptions as may be prescribed and ”.

PART 4 N.I. Human Transplantation

Duty to promote transplantation N.I.

15—(1) The Department must—

(a) promote transplantation, and

(b) provide information and increase awareness about transplantation and the donation for transplantation of parts of the human body.

(2) The duty under subsection (1) includes in particular a duty to promote a campaign informing the public at least once a year.

Commencement Information

I10 S. 15 in operation at 1.4.2022 by S.R. 2022/10, art. 2(a)

Annual report on transplantation N.I.

16—(1) The Department must lay before the Assembly, in respect of each financial year, a report about transplantation in that year.

(2) The report must include—

(a) the steps taken by the Department to fulfil the duties set out in section 15, and

(b) the number and nature of transplantations carried out.

(3) At least once every five financial years, the report must include—

(a) the opinion of the Department as to whether this Act has been effective in promoting transplantation, and

(b) any recommendations the Department considers appropriate for amending the law so as to promote transplantation.

Commencement Information

I11 S. 16 in operation at 1.4.2022 by S.R. 2022/10, art. 2(b)

PART 5 N.I. General

Interpretation N.I.

17  In this Act—

“the Act of 2008” means the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 2008;

“the Department” means the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety;

“the Order of 1972” means the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972;

“statutory provision” has the meaning assigned to it by section 1(f) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954.

Regulations and orders N.I.

18—(1) No regulations shall be made under this Act unless a draft of the regulations has been laid before, and approved by, a resolution of the Assembly.

(2) Regulations and orders made by the Department under this Act may contain such incidental, supplementary, transitional, transitory or saving provisions as appear to the Department to be necessary or expedient.

Repeals N.I.

19  The statutory provisions set out in Schedule2 are hereby repealed to the extent specified in the second column of that Schedule.

Commencement Information

I12 S. 19 partly in operation; s. 19 in operation for certain purposes at 13.6.2016 see s. 20(2)(d)

I13 S. 19 in operation at 1.2.2022 for specified purposes by S.R. 2021/329, art. 2(d)

Commencement N.I.

20—(1) This section and sections 17, 18 and 21 come into operation on the day after the day on which this Act receives Royal Assent.

(2) The following provisions come into operation on the expiration of the period of one month from the day on which this Act receives Royal Assent—

(a) sections 9 to 12;

(b) section 13(3)(a)(i) and (5);

(c) section 14; and

(d) Part 1 of Schedule 2 and section 19 so far as it relates to that Part of that Schedule.

(3) The remaining provisions of this Act come into operation on such day or days as the Department may by order appoint.

Short title N.I.

21  This Act may be cited as the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 2016.