The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Medical Stores) Regulations 1995

Packaging and labelling of containers

7.—(1) Without prejudice to any other enactment, any container of medical stores required by regulation 4 to be kept on board a ship:

(a) shall have in English on a label the particulars specified in paragraph (3) of this regulation;

(b) in the case of a container of tablets or capsules, shall be capable of reclosure to prevent ingress of moisture;

(c) in the case of a container of disinfectant, shall not show deleterious reaction with the disinfectant after storage in normal conditions for six months;

(d) in the case of a container of insecticide, shall be air-tight, water-tight, packed in a suitable and sturdy case and, if the container is a pressure canister, have a cap or other means of protecting the valve against accidental opening when the canister is not in use;

(e) in the case of medicine or disinfectant not in the container supplied by its manufacturer, shall be packed in a sturdy, brown-coloured or non-translucent container.

(2) Any level referred to in paragraph (1)(a) of this regulation shall either be firmly affixed to the container and rendered resistant to moisture by varnish or other effective means or be an integral part of the container.

(3) The particulars required by paragraph (1)(a) of this regulation to be shown on labels are:

(a) the ordering name by which the medical store is referred to in Merchant Shipping Notice M. 1607 or M. 1608.

(b) any storage requirements laid down in any of the publications referred to in regulation 6, elsewhere in these Regulations or in Merchant Shipping Notice M. 1607 or M. 1608;

(c) if the medical stores are perishable, the expiry date as defined in regulation 9;

(d) the name and address of the supplier of the medical stores, the product licence number and batch number;

(e) in the case of any container of a disinfectant or of an antiseptic prescribed in any of the categories set out in Merchant Shipping Notice M. 1607, the dilution recommended for any purpose stated thereon;

(f) in the case of any container of an insecticide prescribed in any of the categories set out in Merchant Shipping Notice M. 1607, instructions for use and precautions to be taken as detailed in paragraph 8 of Schedule 4 to that Merchant Shipping Notice;

(g) in the case of a container of hypochlorite, a notice indicating that the chemical may combust spontaneously and that the hypochlorite should be stored in a cool dark place; and

(h) any further information required by Merchant Shipping Notice M. 1607 or M. 1608.