The Weights and Measures (Equivalents for Dealings With Drugs) Regulations 1970

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires—

• “animal” includes any bird, fish or reptile;

• “medicated feed supplement” means a dilution of a drug or drugs in a diluent for mixing with animal feeding stuffs;

• “ingredient” means a drug which is one constituent of a preparation which is itself a drug;

• “mixture” means any liquid preparation intended for administration by mouth which consists of one or more drugs dissolved or suspended in an aqueous or other appropriate vehicle, but does not include an elixir, emulsion, linctus or syrup;

• “total quantity” means the total quantity of a drug or of a preparation which is itself a drug other than an ingredient;

• “veterinary drug” means a drug ordered, sold or supplied for administration to an animal;

• “veterinary prescription” means a prescription for a drug intended for administration to an animal.

In these regulations a reference to a National Formulary shall be a reference to any edition of a formulary issued under the name of the National Formulary, the National War Formulary or the National (War) Formulary or to any edition issued prior to 1968 of the British National Formulary.

In these regulations a reference to a numbered regulation shall be a reference to the regulation bearing that number in these regulations and a reference to a numbered table shall be a reference to a table bearing that number in the schedule to these regulations.

The Interpretation Act 1889 shall apply to the interpretation of these regulations as it applies to the interpretation of an Act of Parliament.

The provisions of this regulation shall apply subject to the provisions of regulations 6, 7 and 8.

Any unit of measurement mentioned in column 2 of Table 1 or column 2 of Table 2 shall be treated for the purpose of any dealing with quantities of ingredients as the equivalent of the unit set opposite thereto in column 1 of the table; and for any fraction of one grain not specifically mentioned in column 1 of Table 1, the equivalent for such purpose shall be treated as the corresponding fraction of the equivalent of one grain set out in column 2 of that table.

28 millilitres shall be treated for the purpose of any dealing with quantities of ingredients of drugs other than veterinary drugs, and 25 millilitres shall be treated for the purpose of any dealing with quantities of ingredients of veterinary drugs, as the equivalent of any quantity of not less than 451 and not more than 480 minims.

30 grammes shall be treated as the equivalent of one ounce (avoir-dupois or apothecaries) and 25 millilitres shall be treated as the equivalent of one fluid ounce for the purpose of any dealing with quantities of ingredients of veterinary drugs and where any quantity of such ingredients is expressed in terms of a number of ounces or fluid ounces, the equivalent for that purpose shall be 30 grammes or 25 millilitres, as the case may be, multiplied by that number.

The provisions of this regulation shall apply subject to the provisions of regulations 6, 7 and 8.

Any unit of measurement mentioned in column 2 of Table 3 or column 2 of Table 4 shall be treated for the purpose of any dealing with total quantities of drugs as the equivalent of the unit set opposite thereto in column 1 of the table.

Where any quantity of drugs, expressed in terms of one or more of the units mentioned in column 1 of Table 3 or column 1 of Table 4, is greater than one pound or one pint, the equivalent for the purpose of any dealing with total quantities of drugs shall be treated as the corresponding multiple of the equivalent of one pound or one point, as the case may be, specified in column 2 of the relevant table together with the equivalent so specified of any residue of less than a pound or a pint; and in this paragraph “corresponding multiple”, in relation to a quantity of pounds or pints, means the number of times that quantity will divide into units of one pound or one pint, as the case may be.

Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this regulation, where a prescription for any drug states the quantity of each does in terms of fluid drachms, the equivalent of each fluid drachm shall for the purpose of dispensing the prescription be treated as 5 millilitres.

Where a prescription other than a veterinary prescription for any drug which is a mixture, other than a mixture formulated for administration to children, states that the quantity of each does is to be 2 fluid drachms the equivalent of that quantity for the purpose of dispensing the prescription, shall be treated as 10 millilitres.

Provided that if the prescription refers (whether by the use of the monograph name or otherwise) to a monograph in the British Pharmacopoeia, the British Pharmaceutical Codex or the British National Formulary which contains a formulation of the drug with a does of one half of a fluid ounce or 10 millilitres, and the drug is not prescribed at twice the normal strength, the equivalent of a dose of 2 fluid drachms shall for the purpose of dispensing the prescription be treated as 10 millilitres of the drug at half the normal strength.

Where a prescription other than a veterinary prescription for liquid paraffin or any fixed oil, with or without other ingredients, or for any drug which is a mixture other than a mixture to which paragraph (2) of this regulation refers, states the quantity of each dose in terms of fluid ounces, the equivalent of each half of a fluid ounce shall for the purpose of dispensing the prescription be treated as 15 millilitres.

Where a veterinary prescription for any drug states the quantity of each dose in terms of fluid ounces, the equivalent of each half of a fluid ounce shall for the purpose of dispensing the prescription be treated as 15 millilitres.

Where a prescription other than a veterinary prescription is a prescription such as is described in regulation 7(1) or differs from a prescription so described only in that it states the quantity of each dose in terms of millilitres instead of in terms of drachms, and such prescription is for a total quantity expressed as a number of fluid ounces mentioned in column 1 of Table 5, the equivalent of that total quantity shall for the purpose of dispensing the prescription be treated as the quantity set opposite thereto in column 2 of the table.

Where a prescription is a prescription such as is described in regulation 7(2) or differs from a prescription so described only in that it states the quantity of each dose in terms of millilitres instead of in terms of fluid ounces, and such prescription is for a total quantity expressed as a number of fluid ounces mentioned in column 1 of Table 6, the equivalent of that total quantity shall for the purpose of dispensing the prescription be treated as the quantity set opposite thereto in column 2 of the table.

Where a prescription to which regulation 7(3) refers is for a total quantity expressed as a number of fluid ounces mentioned in column 1 of Table 7, the equivalent of that total quantity shall for the purpose of dispensing the prescription be treated as the quantity set opposite thereto in column 2 of the table.

Where a prescription to which paragraph (1) or paragraph (3) of regulation 7 refers is for a total quantity greater than 12 fluid ounces, the equivalent of the total quantity shall for the purpose of dispensing the prescription be treated as the corresponding multiple of the equivalent of 12 fluid ounces specified in column 2 of Table 5 or column 2 of Table 7, as the case may be, together with the equivalent specified in the relevant table of any residue of less than 12 fluid ounces.

Where a prescription to which regulation 7(2) refers is for a total quantity greater than 24 fluid ounces, the equivalent of the total quantity shall for the purpose of dispensing the prescription be treated as the corresponding multiple of the equivalent of 24 fluid ounces specified in column 2 of Table 6 together with the equivalent specified in that table of any residue of less than 24 fluid ounces.

In this regulation “corresponding multiple”, in relation to a quantity of fluid ounces, means the number of times that quantity will divide by 12 or 24 as the case may be.

Where any prescription to which regulation 7 refers specifies quantities of ingredients of any drug in the total quantity to be dispensed, these regulations shall be treated as applying to the quantity of each such ingredient in each dose.

Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this regulation, where any manufacturer, wholesale dealer or retail dealer sells or supplies any drug, he shall, if the order or prescription relating to such dealing is for an ingredient or total quantity expressed in terms of a number of units of measurement for which an equivalent quantity may be ascertained in accordance with regulations 4 and 5, carry out such dealing in terms of the equivalent quantity so ascertained.