Your guide to Pharmacy Law and Ethics
Understand the legal requirements for controlled drugs, including prescribing, storage, record-keeping, and compliance with CD schedules.
This guide outlines all legally required prescription elements for UK Controlled Drugs (CDs) across Schedules 1–5. It clearly differentiates between what is legally required and what is considered best practice.
Prescriptions must include the following:
Where a CD is to be supplied in instalments, the prescription must include:
Pharmacy professionals must follow strict legal requirements when obtaining controlled drugs (CDs) for stock. This article outlines when a mandatory requisition form must be used to obtain Schedule 1, 2, or 3 CDs, and includes guidance on processing, exemptions, and special cases such as midwife supply orders.
From 30 November 2015, it became mandatory under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 for healthcare professionals in the community to use an approved requisition form when requesting Schedule 2 or 3 CDs.
This rule applies to requisitions for both human and veterinary use. It was introduced following the Shipman Inquiry to improve the audit trail and monitoring of controlled drug movement.
Pharmacy professionals in the UK are often asked about the legal requirements around importing and exporting controlled drugs (CDs), both for pharmacy operations and for patients travelling internationally. The rules differ depending on the CD schedule and whether the movement is personal or commercial.
Pharmacies must hold a Home Office Controlled Drugs licence to import or export the following:
For Schedule 4 (Part II) controlled drugs, a Home Office licence is still required unless the drug is being imported or exported by an individual for self-administration.
The administration of Controlled Drugs (CDs) in the UK is strictly regulated under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 and other healthcare legislation. Only specific healthcare professionals and authorized individuals can administer CDs, and they must follow legal and professional standards.
Pharmacists can administer certain CDs if:
Key Considerations:
The supply of Controlled Drugs (CDs) in the UK is strictly regulated under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. Only authorized individuals and entities can supply CDs, and they must adhere to legal requirements concerning prescriptions, record-keeping, and security.
Pharmacists can legally supply CDs only under certain conditions, including:
Pharmacists must ensure:
The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 outline who is legally allowed to possess Controlled Drugs (CDs). Unauthorized possession is an offence unless the individual has legal authority.
Pharmacists and healthcare professionals may legally possess CDs only under specific circumstances, such as:
Key Requirements:
Controlled Drugs (CDs) are classified into five schedules under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 (SI 2001 No. 3998). Each schedule has different legal requirements governing possession, supply, prescription, storage, and record-keeping. The classification is based on potential for misuse, medical use, and risk of dependence.
This guidance provides an overview of the classification system for Controlled Drugs. Pharmacists must be aware of the specific legal requirements for each schedule to ensure compliance with the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001.