Regulation 217BA Original pack dispensing: Northern IrelandF1F2
NI
Subject to paragraphs (2) to (4) and regulation 217CA, for the purposes of this Part, the sale or supply of a prescription only medicine is in accordance with a prescription (and with the directions contained in the prescription) where—
a different quantity is sold or supplied to that ordered on the prescription in order to allow for the sale or supply of the medicine in its manufacturer’s original outer packaging; and
the sale or supply is otherwise in accordance with the prescription.
Paragraph (1) does not apply—
to the sale or supply of a different quantity to that ordered on the prescription in circumstances where the different quantity is more than 10% greater or more than 10% less than the quantity ordered on the prescription; or
in circumstances where a pharmacist is carrying out F3, supervising or authorising (under regulation 220B) the carrying out of the sale or supply and the pharmacist considers, in the exercise of their professional skill and judgement, that the sale or supply of a different quantity to that ordered on the prescription may mean that the patient does not, or is not able to, follow the medication regimen as intended by the prescriber.
Paragraph (2) does not apply to—
a medicine in a form that makes it not practicable to dispense in the exact quantity ordered;
a medicine in a container that has an integral means of application or from which it is not practicable to dispense an exact quantity;
a medicine that cannot be dispensed in the quantity ordered without adversely affecting the medicine.
Paragraphs (1) to (3) do not apply in relation to a supply of a prescription only medicine that is subject to paragraphs 2(1) and (1A) of Schedule 2 to the Pharmaceutical Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997,
until those Regulations expressly apply paragraphs (1) to (3) to those supplies.
Annotations
Textual amendments
- F1
Regs. 217B, 217C inserted (E.W.S.) (11.10.2023) by The Human Medicines (Amendment Relating to Original Pack Dispensing) (England and Wales and Scotland) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1015), regs. 1(2), 2(2)
- F2
Reg. 217BA inserted (N.I.) (4.6.2024) by The Human Medicines (Amendment Relating to Original Pack Dispensing) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2024 (S.R. 2024/125), regs. 1(2), 2(2)
- F3
Words in reg. 217BA(2)(b) substituted (7.1.2026) by The Human Medicines (Authorisation by Pharmacists and Supervision by Pharmacy Technicians) Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/1249), arts. 1(2)(5)(c), 12(8)
Notes on Part 12
Modifications
- C1
Pt. 12 modified (E.W.) (1.10.2015) by The Nicotine Inhaling Products (Age of Sale and Proxy Purchasing) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/895), regs. 1(3), 4(2)