(1) Except as provided in subclauses (2) to (5), no person shall supply any controlled drug on more than 1 occasion on the same prescription, or more than 7 days after the date of this prescription, or in a quantity, having regard to the dose and frequency of the dose or the directions given by the prescriber, greater than a quantity sufficient for use for a period of 1 month.
(2) If the medical practitioner signing a prescription so directs on the prescription,—
(a) any controlled drug (not being a Class C controlled drug) may be supplied on not more than 2 occasions, at an interval to be specified by the medical practitioner on the prescription, the first such occasion being not more than 7 days after the date of the prescription and the second such occasion being not more than 7 days after the termination of that interval:
provided that in no case shall the total quantity supplied, having regard to the dose and frequency of the dose or the directions given by the prescriber, be greater than a quantity sufficient for use for a period of 1 month:
(b) any Class C controlled drug may be supplied on not more than 3 occasions, at such intervals as may be specified by the medical practitioner on the prescription or, if no intervals are so specified, at monthly intervals:
provided that in no case shall the total quantity supplied, having regard to the dose and frequency of the dose or the directions given by the prescriber, be greater than a quantity sufficient for use for a period of 3 months.
(2A) If the midwife signing the prescription so directs on the prescription, pethidine may be supplied under section 8(2)(aa) of the Act on not more than 2 occasions, at an interval to be specified by the midwife on the prescription, the first such occasion being not more than 4 days after the date of the prescription and the second such occasion being not more than 4 days after the termination of that interval:
provided that in no case shall the total quantity supplied, having regard to the dose and frequency of the dose or the directions given by the prescriber, be greater than a quantity sufficient for use for a period of 1 month.
(3) A prescription for a Class C controlled drug shall not be dispensed on any occasion after 6 months have elapsed from the date on which it was written.
(4) If, for special reasons relating to the protection of the patient, or for the purpose of limiting the quantity of any controlled drug in the possession of any person, the medical practitioner, midwife, or designated prescriber nurse signing a prescription directs on the prescription that the controlled drug is to be dispensed daily or at such other regular intervals as he or she considers necessary for a stated period not exceeding a period of 1 month, the controlled drug may be supplied on not more than the number of occasions indicated, and not more frequently than the intervals indicated by the medical practitioner, midwife, or designated prescriber nurse.
(5) If a Medical Officer of Health has issued to a person a notice under section 25 of the Act authorising him to supply a controlled drug for a named patient on more than 2 occasions on any prescription, that person may supply the controlled drug in such quantity, at such frequency, and for such period as the notice shall specify.
(6) If the prescription has been given orally in accordance with regulation 34 the prescription shall not be dispensed on more than 1 occasion before the written confirmation is received by the person who dispensed the prescription.
(7) On the first occasion of dispensing a prescription or, where a controlled drug has been dispensed in accordance with an oral prescription as provided in regulation 34, on the subsequent receipt of the written prescription, there shall be written or stamped on the face of the prescription, above the signature of the prescriber, in such manner and place that no part of the prescription is obliterated—
(8) On each subsequent occasion of dispensing a prescription, if any, there shall be written or stamped on the face or back of the prescription, in such manner or place that no part of the prescription is obliterated, a further endorsement that, together with any earlier endorsement, clearly indicates—
Regulation 31(1): amended, on 10 March 1983, by regulation 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1977, Amendment No 6 (SR 1983/19).
Regulation 31(1): amended, on 1 June 1977, by regulation 4(1) of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1977, Amendment No 1 (SR 1977/135).
Regulation 31(2): substituted, on 1 June 1977, by regulation 4(2) of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1977, Amendment No 1 (SR 1977/135).
Regulation 31(2)(a): amended, on 10 March 1983, by regulation 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1977, Amendment No 6 (SR 1983/19).
Regulation 31(2A): inserted, on 7 September 1990, by regulation 5(1) of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1977, Amendment No 9 (SR 1990/222).
Regulation 31(2A): amended, on 18 September 2004, by section 175(3) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (2003 No 48).
Regulation 31(3): substituted, on 1 June 1977, by regulation 4(2) of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1977, Amendment No 1 (SR 1977/135).
Regulation 31(4): amended, on 18 September 2004, by section 175(3) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (2003 No 48).
Regulation 31(4): amended, on 11 October 2001, by regulation 14 of the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Regulations 2001 (SR 2001/231).
Regulation 31(4): amended, on 7 September 1990, by regulation 5(2)(b) of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1977, Amendment No 9 (SR 1990/222).