Misuse of Drugs (Designation) Order (N.I) 2001   S.R. 2001 No. 432

This Order came into force on 1st February 2002, revoking SR 1987 No. 66 and is one of a series of such orders in force in Northern Ireland over the years.

Under Part I of this, the Order designates which drugs section 7(4) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 applies to.  Under Part II it details the excepted drugs.

Section 7(4) of the Act states:

“If in the case of any controlled drug the Secretary of State is of the opinion that it is in the public interest –

(a) for production, supply and possession of that drug to be either wholly unlawful or unlawful except for purposes of research or other special purposes; or

(b) for it to be unlawful for practitioners, pharmacists and persons lawfully conducting retail pharmacy businesses to do in relation to that drug any of the things mentioned in subsection (3) above except under a licence or other authority issued by the Secretary of State,

He may by order designate that drug as a drug to which this subsection appliers; and while there is in force an order under this subsection designating a controlled drug as one to which this subsection applies, section (3) shall not apply as regards this drug.”

Section 3 states that the Secretary of State to make regulations under subsection (1) to allow doctors, dentists, veterinary practitioners and veterinary surgeons when acting in their professional capacity to prescribe, administer, manufacture, compound or supply a controlled drugs, as well as pharmacists and persons lawfully conducting a retail pharmacist business to manufacture, compound or supply a controlled drug.  Both may also lawfully possess these.

Please go to www.opsi.gov.uk to obtain copies of the legislation

Please go to Part I and II document (PDF 39KB) to see the drugs to which section 7(4) applies: