{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/human-medicines-regulations-2012/regulation-49",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/human-medicines-regulations-2012/regulation-49.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/2012/1916",
  "legislation_title": "The Human Medicines Regulations 2012",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/human-medicines-regulations-2012",
  "path": "regulation/49",
  "kind": "regulation",
  "number": "49",
  "heading": "Application for grant of UK marketing authorisation or parallel import licence",
  "text": "(1) The licensing authority may grant—\n(a) subject to regulation 58, 58C, 58E, 58F and 58G, a UK marketing authorisation; or\n(b) a parallel import licence,\nfor a relevant medicinal product in response to an application made in accordance with this Part.\n(1ZA) If the licensing authority determines to grant a UKMA(UK) under paragraph (1), it must determine if one or more of the following criteria are met in relation to the medicinal product—\n(a) it belongs to a category of medicinal product referred to in Article 3(1) of Regulation (EC) No 726/2004;\n(b) it belongs to a category of medicinal product referred to in Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 and—\n(i) the medicinal product contains an active substance which, on 20th May 2004, was not authorised in the European Union, or\n(ii) the licensing authority considers that the medicinal product constitutes a significant therapeutic, scientific or technical innovation or that granting the marketing authorisation is in the interest of patients’ health in the United Kingdom.\n(1ZB) If the licensing authority determines that one or more of the criteria in paragraph (1ZA) are met, the marketing authorisation granted is a UKMA(UK)(Category 1).\n(1ZC) If the licensing authority determines that none of the criteria in paragraph (1ZA) are met, the marketing authorisation granted is a UKMA(UK)(Category 2).\n(1ZD) The licensing authority may grant a UKMA(NI) under Chapter 4 of Title III of the 2001 Directive where there is an application for a marketing authorisation for a medicinal product, unless there is a UKMA(UK), or an application yet to be determined for a UKMA(UK), for the same medicinal product.\n(1A) The licensing authority may accept an application meeting reduced or alternative requirements specified in this Part (“under the unfettered access route”) and grant a UKMA(UK)(Category 2) only where—\n(a) there is in place, or will be at the time the UKMA(UK)(Category 2) is granted, a UKMA(NI) in respect of the product authorising sale or supply in Northern Ireland,\n(b) the applicant complies with the requirements in regulation 50(1A), and\n(c) the medicinal product satisfies the definition of qualifying Northern Ireland goods.\n(1B) The licensing authority may only grant a parallel import licence if it is able to obtain the information necessary, whether from a competent authority of an EEA State or otherwise, to satisfy itself that the medicinal product to be imported—\n(a) has been granted an EU marketing authorisation or a marketing authorisation under the 2001 Directive; and\n(b) is essentially similar to a product that has already been granted a UK marketing authorisation.\n(1C) A marketing authorisation or parallel import licence must state whether it is in force in—\n(a) the whole United Kingdom;\n(b) Great Britain only; or\n(c) Northern Ireland only,\nand in these Regulations the meaning of a reference to that authorisation or licence being “in force” is limited to that territory.\n(2) A marketing authorisation or parallel import licence granted under paragraph (1) shall contain terms approved by the licensing authority.\n(3) The applicant, where it is applying for—\n(a) a UK marketing authorisation must, subject to sub-paragraph (b), be established in the United Kingdom or an EEA State;\n(b) a UKMA(UK)(Category 2) —\n(i) under the unfettered access route, must be established in Northern Ireland;\n(ii) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(c) a parallel import licence, must be established in the United Kingdom.\n(3ZA) Where a UKMA(UK)(Category 2) is granted under the unfettered access route, any UKMA(NI) granted in relation to the same medicinal product ceases to have effect.\n(3A) An application for a parallel import licence may not be made by—\n(a) the holder of the marketing authorisation, within the meaning of the 2001 Directive, or the EU marketing authorisation, in respect of the relevant medicinal product to be imported; or\n(b) a company which is in the same group as the holder of that marketing authorisation.\n(4) The application must be—\n(a) made in writing;\n(b) signed by or on behalf of the applicant; and\n(c) unless the licensing authority directs otherwise, accompanied by any fee payable in connection with the application.\n(5) An application is treated as signed for the purposes of paragraph (4)(b) if it is signed with an electronic signature.\n(6) The application and any accompanying material must be in English.\n(7) The application must include a statement indicating whether the product to which the application relates should be available—\n(a) only on prescription;\n(b) only from a pharmacy; or\n(c) on general sale.\n(8) The application must include a statement indicating—\n(a) whether any terms of the authorisation are proposed relating to the method of sale or supply of the product (including, in particular, any proposed restrictions affecting the circumstances of the use or promotion of the product); and\n(b) if so, what terms are proposed.\n( 9) The application must include a statement indicating whether the authorisation or licence sought is for sale or supply of the product in—\n(a) the whole United Kingdom;\n(b) ...; or\n(c) Northern Ireland only.\n(10) In this regulation “group” has the same meaning as in Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 (see section 474(1) of that Act).",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Reg. 49(1) substituted (E.W.S.) (1.10.2014) by The Human Medicines (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1878), regs. 1, 5 and reg. 49(1) substituted (N.I.) (1.10.2014) by The Human Medicines (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2014 (S.R. 2014/324), regs. 1(1), 5"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in reg. 49(1) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Human Medicines (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/775), regs. 1, 48(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Reg. 49(1ZA)-(1ZD) inserted (1.1.2025) by The Human Medicines (Amendments relating to the Windsor Framework) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/832), regs. 1(1), 26(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Reg. 49(1A)-(1C) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Human Medicines (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/775), regs. 1, 48(3) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1488, reg. 1, Sch. 2 para. 36(a)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in reg. 49(1A) substituted (1.1.2025) by The Human Medicines (Amendments relating to the Windsor Framework) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/832), regs. 1(1), 26(b)(i)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Reg. 49(1A)(a) substituted (1.1.2025) by The Human Medicines (Amendments relating to the Windsor Framework) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/832), regs. 1(1), 26(b)(ii)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in reg. 49(2) inserted (E.W.S.) (1.10.2014) by The Human Medicines (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1878), regs. 1, 4 and words in reg. 49(2) inserted (N.I.) (1.10.2014) by The Human Medicines (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2014 (S.R. 2014/324), regs. 1(1), 4(2)(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Reg. 49(3) substituted (31.12.2020) by S.I. 2019/775, regs. 1, 48(4) (as substituted by The Human Medicines (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1488), reg. 1, Sch. 2 para. 36(b))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "Reg. 49(3)(a) substituted (17.5.2023) by The Human Medicines (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/437), regs. 1(1), 4(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "Words in reg. 49(3)(a) substituted (1.1.2025) by The Human Medicines (Amendments relating to the Windsor Framework) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/832), regs. 1(1), 26(c)(i)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F11",
      "text": "Words in reg. 49(3)(b) substituted (1.1.2025) by The Human Medicines (Amendments relating to the Windsor Framework) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/832), regs. 1(1), 26(c)(ii)(aa)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F12",
      "text": "Reg. 49(3)(b)(ii) omitted (1.1.2025) by virtue of The Human Medicines (Amendments relating to the Windsor Framework) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/832), regs. 1(1), 26(c)(ii)(bb)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F13",
      "text": "Words in reg. 49(3)(c) substituted (17.5.2023) by The Human Medicines (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/437), regs. 1(1), 4(c)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F14",
      "text": "Reg. 49(3ZA) inserted (1.1.2025) by The Human Medicines (Amendments relating to the Windsor Framework) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/832), regs. 1(1), 26(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F15",
      "text": "Reg. 49(3A) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Human Medicines (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/775), regs. 1, 48(5); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F16",
      "text": "Reg. 49(9)(10) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Human Medicines (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/775), regs. 1, 48(6) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1488, reg. 1, Sch. 2 para. 36(c)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F17",
      "text": "Reg. 49(9)(b) omitted (1.1.2025) by virtue of The Human Medicines (Amendments relating to the Windsor Framework) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/832), regs. 1(1), 26(e)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F18",
      "text": "Words in reg. 49 heading inserted (E.W.S.) (1.10.2014) by The Human Medicines (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1878), regs. 1, 4 and words in reg. 49 heading inserted (N.I.) (1.10.2014) by The Human Medicines (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2014 (S.R. 2014/324), regs. 1(1), 4(2)(a)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/1916/regulation/49",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T01:24:34.993203+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}