The Medicines (Products Other Than Veterinary Drugs) (Prescription Only) Amendment Order 1988

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order further amends the Medicines (Products Other Than Veterinary Drugs) (Prescription Only) Order 1983 (the principal Order) which specifies descriptions and classes of prescription only medicines, that is to say medicinal products which (subject to exemptions) may be sold or supplied by retail only in accordance with a prescription given by an appropriate practitioner and which may be administered only by or in accordance with the directions of such a practitioner.

The amendments made by this Order are as follows —

• Article 2 makes two amendments to article 4 of the principal Order: it exempts certain products containing astemizole from being a prescription only medicine; and it exempts all preparations of insulin for parenteral administration from being prescription only medicines;

• Article 3 inserts a new article 11A into the principal Order which exempts from the restrictions on sale or supply of prescription only medicines contained in section 58(2)(a) of the Medicines Act 1968 the sale or supply by a pharmacist of such a medicine in accordance with a forged prescription but only in limited circumstances;

• Article 4 amends Part I of Schedule 1 to the principal Order which lists substances which render medicinal products a prescription only medicine except in circumstances also listed;

• Article 5 deletes an entry from Part III of Schedule 1 to the principal Order which lists the name and product licence number of medicinal products that are prescription only medicines;

• Article 6 inserts entries into Part IV of Schedule 1 to the principal Order which lists the name and product licence number of medicinal products that are not prescription only medicines and also inserts therein a new list of medicinal products identified by reference to the name of the relevant product licence holder as well as the name and product licence number of the product.