Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Medicines for Human Use (Prescribing by EEA Practitioners) Regulations 2008 (“the principal Regulations”).

Regulation 2 substitutes the definition of “controlled drug” to ensure that prescriptions for controlled drugs included in Schedules 1 to 3 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 or Schedules 1 to 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 are automatically excluded from being dispensed in the UK. EEA prescriptions for controlled drugs listed in Schedules 4 or 5 to those respective Regulations can be lawfully dispensed against provided the conditions contained in the principal Regulations are met.

Regulation 3 amends regulation 7 of the principal Regulations to ensure that the emergency sale or supply of certain controlled drugs is permitted where this is pursuant to a request by an EEA health professional or where such treatment has previously been prescribed by such a person.

An impact assessment has not been prepared for this instrument as there is no significant impact on the private and voluntary sectors.