Frequently Asked Questions - Legislation - order and rules

The major changes are:

• the end of the non-practising register;
• the introduction of a ‘rolling’ register, where the initial registration period will be for one year from the date of entry to the register, rather than from the date of entry to 31 December; and
• the move from retention to renewal of registration.

The Pharmacy Order 2010 can be found here: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/231/contents/made

The duties of enforcement that the RPSGB had under the Medicines Act (or any subordinate legislation made under it), transferred over to the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). The GPhC became the regulator in 2010.

The Pharmacy Order (together with other legislation such as the Medicines Act) sets out what the GPhC has to do, and what it can do. Details of how to do these things are, or will be, set out in Rules under the legislation.

The GPhC has five sets of rules in place when it becomes operational: registration, statutory committees, appeals, fitness to practise and fees. All these (save for the fees rules) have been consulted upon, agreed by the GPhC Council and laid in the Westminster and Scottish Parliaments.

The Fees rules do not however need Parliamentary approval. 2011 Fees Rules were set by the GPhC Council on 15 September 2010.

A premises can only be registered as a pharmacy, if the owner’s service model from those premises includes one of the following: 

• the sale of Pharmacy (P) medicines
• the supply of P medicines or Prescription Only Medicines (POMs) against prescriptions. 
• the supply of P medicines or Prescription Only Medicines (POMs) against prescriptions written by veterinary practitioners for the treatment of animals under the ‘cascade’.

Further information on registration of pharmacy premises.