Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) This Order may be cited as the Medicines (Products Other Than Veterinary Drugs) (General Sale List) Amendment (No. 2) Order 1999 and shall come into force on 30th September 1999.

(2) In this Order-

(a)"the principal Order" means the Medicines (Products Other Than Veterinary Drugs) (General Sale List) Order 1984(3);

(b)"Table A of Schedule 1" means Table A (internal or external use) of Schedule 1 to the principal Order (which specifies the class of medicinal products, other than products the subject of a product licence of right, on general sale by virtue of article 2(a) of the principal Order);

(c)any reference to an entry in Table A of Schedule 1 which comprises the name of a substance is a reference to such an entry as it occurs in column 1 of that Table.

Amendment of Schedule 1 to the principal Order

2.-(1) Table A of Schedule 1 is amended as follows-

(a)against the entry for "Ibuprofen"(4), there is inserted in column 3, in the entry numbered "(2)", before the words "rheumatic pain", the word "backache";

(b)against the entry for "Lignocaine Hydrochloride"(5), there is inserted-

(i)in column 2, after the entry numbered "(2)", the words "(3) 2.0 per cent"; and

(ii)in column 3, after the entry numbered "(2)", the words "(3) External, except local ophthalmic use; for use in adults and in children aged 12 years and over; all preparations except sprays"; and

(c)against the entry for "Zinc Sulphate", there is substituted for the entry in column 2 "(2) 0.25 per cent", the entry "(2) 1.0 per cent".

(2) In Table A of Schedule 1, there is inserted in column 1, at the appropriate place in the alphabetical order of the entries as they appear in that column, the entry set out in column 1 below, and, against that entry, there is inserted in columns 2, 3 and 4 the corresponding text in columns 2, 3 and 4 below:

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order further amends the Medicines (Products Other Than Veterinary Drugs) (General Sale List) Order 1984 ("the principal Order") which specifies classes of medicinal products which can with reasonable safety be sold or supplied otherwise than by or under the supervision of a pharmacist (the general sale list).

Article 2 amends Schedule 1 to the principal Order (medicinal products, other than products the subject of a product licence of right, on general sale) by amending Table A (internal or external use)-

(a)in respect of the entry for Ibuprofen, by inserting a reference to external use for the treatment of backache;

(b)in respect of the entry for Lignocaine Hydrochloride, by inserting a reference to products of maximum strength 2.0 per cent, for external use except local ophthalmic use, for use in adults and in children aged 12 years and over, and in any type of preparation except sprays;

(c)in respect of the entry for Zinc Sulphate, to increase the maximum strength, for external use, from 0.25 per cent to 1.0 per cent; and

(d)in respect of Ranitidine Hydrochloride, to insert an entry for products of maximum strength 75 mg, for the short term symptomatic relief of heartburn, indigestion, acid indigestion and hyperacidity with a maximum daily dose of 150 mg.

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.