Medicines Act 1968

1 Ministers responsible for administration of Act. U.K.

(1)In this Act—

(a)the Health Ministers” means the following Ministers, that is to say, [F1the Secretary of State concerned with health in England] and the Minister of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland, and, in the case of anything falling to be done by the Health Ministers, means those Ministers acting jointly;

(b)the Agriculture Ministers” means the following Ministers, that is to say, the [F2Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs], F3. . . and the Minister of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, and, in the case of anything falling to be done by the Agriculture Ministers, means those Ministers acting jointly,

and “the Ministers” means F4. . . the Ministers [F5for Northern Ireland]specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection [F6and the Secretary of State], and, in the case of anything falling to be done by the Ministers, means all those Ministers acting jointly.

(2)In this Act, except where the contrary is expressly provided, “the appropriate Ministers”—

(a)for the purpose of performing any function under this Act (whether by the making of any regulations or order or otherwise) where the function is performed exclusively in relation to matters other than veterinary drugs and the treatment of diseases of animals, means the Health Ministers; and

(b)in any other case, means the Ministers.

Textual Amendments

F1Words in s. 1(1)(a) substituted (27.12.1999) by S.I. 1999/3142, art. 5, Sch. para. 1(1) (with art. 4)

F2S. 1(1): words in definition of “the Agricultural Ministers”substituted (27.3.2002) by S.I. 2002/794, art. 5(1), Sch. 1 para. 15(1)(2) (with arts. 5(3), 6)

F3Words in s. 1(1)(b) repealed (27.12.1999) by S.I. 1999/3142, art. 5, Sch. para. 1(2) (with art. 4)

F4Word in s. 1(1) repealed (27.3.2002) by S.I. 2002/794, art. 5(2), Sch. 2 (with art. 6)

F5S. 1(1): words in definition of “the Ministers”inserted (27.3.2002) by S.I. 2002/794, art. 5(1), Sch. 1 para. 15(1)(3)(a) (with arts. 5(3), 6)

F6S. 1(1): words in definition of “the Ministers”inserted (27.3.2002) by S.I. 2002/794, art. 5(1), Sch. 1 para. 15(1)(3)(b) (with arts. 5(3), 6)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1Pt. I(ss. 1–5) extended by S.I. 1984/187, art. 2

C2S. 1 extended (3.4.1992) by S.I. 1992/605, regs. 2(4), 3