- Latest available (Revised)
- Point in Time (22/05/2008)
- Original (As enacted)
Version Superseded: 29/12/2008
Point in time view as at 22/05/2008. This version of this provision has been superseded.
You are viewing this legislation item as it stood at a particular point in time. A later version of this or provision, including subsequent changes and effects, supersedes this version.
Note the term provision is used to describe a definable element in a piece of legislation that has legislative effect – such as a Part, Chapter or section.
Medicines Act 1968, Section 8 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 18 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Changes and effects yet to be applied by the editorial team are only applicable when viewing the latest version or prospective version of legislation. They are therefore not accessible when viewing legislation as at a specific point in time. To view the ‘Changes to Legislation’ information for this provision return to the latest version view using the options provided in the ‘What Version’ box above.
(1)The following provisions of this section shall have effect without prejudice to the operation of section 7 of this Act, but subject to the exemptions and provisions referred to in paragraphs [F1(a) and (c)] of subsection (1) of that section.
(2)[F2Subject to [F3subsections (2A) and (2C)] of this section]No person shall, in the course of a business carried on by him, [F4manufacture, assemble or import from a third country] any medicinal product except in accordance with a licence granted for the purposes of this subsection (in this Act referred to as a “manufacturer’s licence”).
[F5(2A)In the case of a medicinal product that is an investigational medicinal product, the restrictions imposed by subsection (2) of this section only apply—
(a)if the product has a product licence or marketing authorization, and
(b)to the extent that the manufacture or assembly of the product is in accordance with the terms and conditions of that licence or authorization.]
[F5(2B)In subsection (2A) of this section—
“investigational medicinal product” has the meaning given by the Clinical Trials Regulations; and
“marketing authorization” means—
a marketing authorization issued by a competent authority in accordance with Directive 2001/83/ EC , or
a marketing authorization granted by the European Commission under Council Regulation ( EEC ) 2309/93 . ]
[F6(2C)The prohibition in subsection (2) does not apply to a person who, in connection with the importation of a medicinal product from a third country—
(a)provides facilities solely for transporting the product, or
(b)in the course of a business carried on by him as an import agent, imports the medicinal product solely to the order of another person who holds a manufacturer’s licence authorising the importation of the product.]
[F6(2D)The Ministers may prescribe requirements (either generally or in relation to a prescribed class of medicinal product or activity)—
(a)with which the holder of a manufacturer’s licence must comply, and
(b)which are to have effect as if they were provisions of the licence.]
[F7( 3 )[F8Subject to [F9subsections (3C) and (3D)] of this section,] no person shall, in the course of a business carried on by him—
(a)sell, or offer for sale, any medicinal product by way of wholesale dealing, or
(b)distribute, otherwise than by way of sale, any proprietary medicinal product F10... [F11or industrially produced medicinal product] F10... which has been imported, but was not consigned from a member State,
except in accordance with a [F12wholesale dealer’s licence].]
[F13(3A)Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (3) of this section but subject to [F14subsections (3C) and (3D)], no person shall, in the course of a business carried on by him, distribute by way of wholesale dealing a product to which [F15the 2001 Directive applies] apply except in accordance with a wholesale dealer’s licence.
(3B)Distribution of such a product by way of wholesale dealing shall not be taken to be in accordance with a wholesale dealer’s licence unless, in particular, it occurs in the course of a business which is carried on at a place or places specified in the licence.
(3C)The restrictions imposed by subsections (3) and (3A) of this section do not apply to anything done in relation to a product to which [F15the 2001 Directive applies] apply by the holder of a manufacturer’s licence in respect of it.]
[F16(3D)The restrictions imposed by subsections (3) and (3A) of this section do not apply where the product concerned is an investigational medicinal product within the meaning given by the Clinical Trials Regulations.]
[F17(3E)The Ministers may prescribe requirements (either generally or in relation to a prescribed class of medicinal product or activity)—
(a)with which the holder of a wholesale dealer’s licence must comply, and
(b)which are to have effect as if they were provisions of the licence.]
[F18(4)F19... subsection (3)(b) of this section shall not apply if the product is—
F20( a ). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(b)a radiopharmaceutical in which the radionuclide is in the form of a sealed source, [F21. . .]
F21( c ). . .
F22(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(6)In this section, [F23“proprietary medicinal product” and “radiopharmaceutical”] have the same meanings as in section 7 of this Act.]
[F24(7)In this section any reference to distribution of a product by way of wholesale dealing is a reference to—
(a)selling or supplying it, or
(b)procuring, holding or exporting it for the purposes of sale or supply,
to a person who receives it for the purposes of—
(i)selling or supplying it, or
(ii)administering it or causing it to be administered to one or more human beings,
in the course of a business carried on by that person.
(8)In this Act any reference to a wholesale dealer’s licence is a reference to a licence granted for the purposes of subsection (3) or (3A) of this section.]
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 8(1) substituted (1.10.2006) by The Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/2407), reg. 1, Sch. 8 para. 8(a) (with regs. 2(4), 3)
F2Words in s. 8(2) inserted (1.5.2004) by Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1031), reg. 1, Sch. 10 para. 4(2)
F3Words in s. 8(2) substituted (30.10.2005) by The Medicines for Human Use (Manufacturing, Wholesale Dealing and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/2789), reg. 1(1), Sch. 5 para. 1(2)(a) (with Sch. 6)
F4Words in s. 8(2) substituted (30.10.2005) by The Medicines for Human Use (Manufacturing, Wholesale Dealing and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/2789), reg. 1(1), Sch. 5 para. 1(2)(b) (with Sch. 6)
F5S. 8(2A)(2B) inserted (1.5.2004) by Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1031), reg. 1, Sch. 10 para. 4(3)
F6S. 8(2C)(2D) inserted (30.10.2005) by The Medicines for Human Use (Manufacturing, Wholesale Dealing and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/2789), reg. 1(1), Sch. 5 para. 1(3) (with Sch. 6)
F7S. 8(3)(4) substituted for s. 8(3) by (E.W.)(S.) S.I. 1977/1050, art. 3(2) and (N.I.) S.R. 1977 No. 170, reg. 4
F8Words in s. 8(3) inserted (14.4.1993) by S.I. 1993/834, reg. 2(2)
F9Words in s. 8(3) substituted (1.5.2004) by Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1031), reg. 1, Sch. 10 para. 4(4)
F10Words in s. 8(3)(b) omitted (1.10.2006) by virtue of The Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/2407), reg. 1, Sch. 8 para. 8(b) (with regs. 2(4), 3)
F11Words in s. 8(3)(b) substituted (3.4.1992) by virtue of S.I.1992/604, regs. 3(2), 4
F12Words in s. 8(3) substituted (14.4.1993) by S.I. 1993/834, reg. 2(3)
F13S. 8(3A)-(3C) inserted (14.4.1993) by S.I. 1993/834, reg. 2(4)
F14Words in s. 8(3A) substituted (1.5.2004) by Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1031), reg. 1, Sch. 10 para. 4(4)
F15Words in s. 8(3A)(3C) substituted (28.2.2002) by S.I. 2002/236, reg. 2(a)(i)
F16S. 8(3D) inserted (1.5.2004) by Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1031), reg. 1, Sch. 10 para. 4(5)
F17S. 8(3E) inserted (30.10.2005) by The Medicines for Human Use (Manufacturing, Wholesale Dealing and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/2789), reg. 1(1), Sch. 5 para. 1(4) (with Sch. 6)
F18S. 8(4)(5)(6) substituted (3.4.1992) for s. 8(4) by virtue of S.I. 1992/604, regs. 3(3), 4
F19Words in s. 8(4) omitted (1.10.2006) by virtue of The Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/2407), reg. 1, Sch. 8 para. 8(c) (with regs. 2(4), 3)
F20S. 8(4)(a) omitted (8.11.2005) by virtue of The Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/50), regs. 1(2), 25(1)(b) (with reg. 2(2)-(4))
F21In S. 8(4) paragraph (c) and words immediately preceeding it omitted (13.2.1994) by virtue of S.I. 1994/276, reg. 4(2)(b) (which S.I. revoked and replaced defective S.I. 1994/101 before the latter S.I. came into force)
F22S. 8(5) omitted (1.10.2006) by virtue of The Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/2407), reg. 1, Sch. 8 para. 8(d) (with regs. 2(4), 3)
F23Words in s. 8(6) substituted (1.10.2006) by The Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/2407), reg. 1, Sch. 8 para. 8(e) (with regs. 2(4), 3)
F24S. 8(7)(8) added (14.4.1993) by S.I. 1993/834, reg. 2(5)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Pt. II(ss. 6–50) extended with modifications by S.I. 1985/1403, art. 3(1)
C2S. 8 excluded by S.I. 1989/2325, art. 2(3)
C3S. 8(2) excluded by S.I. 1979/1114, arts. 2, 4 and by S.I. 1979/1585, arts. 2, 3
C4S. 8(3) excluded by S.I. 1989/2322, art. 2(1)
C5S. 8(3) excluded by S.I. 1990/566, art. 2(1)
C6S. 8(3)(b) excluded by S.I. 1989/2322, art. 2(3)
C7S. 8(3)(b) excluded by S.I. 1990/566, art. 2(3)
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
Point in Time: This becomes available after navigating to view revised legislation as it stood at a certain point in time via Advanced Features > Show Timeline of Changes or via a point in time advanced search.
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including: