These Regulations amend the National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Wales) Regulations 2004 (“the 2004 Regulations”), the National Health Service (Free Prescriptions and Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Wales) Regulations 2007 (“the 2007 Regulations”) and the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Wales) Regulations 2013 (“the 2013 Regulations”) by extending the definition of prescriber through the insertion of two categories of independent prescriber: physiotherapist independent prescriber; and podiatrist or chiropodist independent prescriber.

These Regulations also amend the Single Use Carrier Bags Charge (Wales) Regulations 2010 (“the 2010 Regulations”) by extending the exemption from the requirement to charge for single use carrier bags.

The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result, it was not considered necessary to carry out a regulatory impact assessment as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with these Regulations.