The Prescription Only Medicines (Human Use) Amendment (No. 3) Order 1998

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the Prescription Only Medicines (Human Use) Order 1997 (“the principal Order”) which specifies descriptions and classes of prescription only medicines (i.e. 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–

• the amendment to the emergency supply rules in article 8 to enable pharmacists to supply more than 5 days' supply of insulin where only packs containing more than that amount are available (article 2);

• amendments to the conditions under which Aspirin, Beclomethasone Dipropionate, Budesonide, Domperidone Maleate, Felbinac, Flunisolide, Ketoconazole, and Nedocromil Sodium may be sold or supplied otherwise than as prescription only medicines (article 3);

• the revocation of the conditions under which Astemizole may be sold or supplied otherwise than as a prescription only medicine (article 3);

• the inclusion in Schedule 1 to the principal Order of products containing the substances Aloxiprin, Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride, Hydrocyanic Acid, Ibuprofen Lysine, Levocabastine Hydrochloride, Nilutamide, Phytomenadione, Strychnine Nitrate and Sulfabenzamide, and the conditions for their sale or supply otherwise than as prescription only medicines on the terms set out in the Schedule to this Order (article 3);

• the addition of Phytomenadione to the list of substances in Part I of Schedule 5 to the principal Order which may be sold or supplied by midwives (article 4); and

• the addition of Mepivacaine Hydrochloride to the list of substances in Part III of Schedule 5 to the principal Order which may be administered by registered chiropodists (article 4).

An assessment of the cost to business of complying with this Order has been made, copies of which have been placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament. Further copies may be obtained from the Department of Health, Medicines Control Agency, Information Centre, Room 1207 Market Towers, 1 Nine Elms Lane, London SW8 5NQ.