24Required form for issuing prescriptions

24 Required form for issuing prescriptions

(1) A person who issues a prescription for a Schedule 4 poison, Schedule 8 poison or Schedule 9 poison must write the prescription either—

(a) in the person's own handwriting; or

(b) in a manner of writing approved by the Secretary under regulation 162(1).

Under regulation 16, only certain persons are permitted to issue a prescription for a Schedule 4 poison, Schedule 8 poison or Schedule 9 poison. Any other person who issues a prescription for one of those poisons commits an offence.

Reg. 24(1A) inserted by S.R. No. 31/2018 reg. 7.

(1A) A person who writes a prescription for a Schedule 4 poison, Schedule 8 poison or Schedule 9 poison must ensure that the prescription is written in a legible and durable form.

(2) A person who writes a prescription for a Schedule 4 poison, Schedule 8 poison or Schedule 9 poison must sign the prescription.

(3) A person who writes a prescription for a Schedule 4 poison, Schedule 8 poison or Schedule 9 poison must include in the prescription the following information—

(a) the name and address of, and a telephone number for, the person who wrote the prescription;

(b) the following information for the person or animal for whom the prescription is issued—

(i) in the case of a person, the person's name and address;

(ii) in the case of an animal, the species, age, breed and sex of the animal, and the name and address of a person who owns or has custody or care of the animal;

(c) the date on which the prescription was written;

(d) full particulars of the poison to be supplied;

(e) a statement of the quantity to be supplied;

(f) directions for the precise dose or use and frequency of administration except in cases where—

(i) because of the complexity of the dosage regimen or use it is impracticable to do so and the prescriber has separately supplied the patient with written instruction; or

(ii) a variable dosage regimen is directed and a statement specifying a maximum frequency of administration is included; or

(iii) the administration of the poison is to be carried out by a registered medical practitioner, veterinary practitioner, pharmacist, dentist, authorised optometrist, authorised podiatrist, nurse or registered midwife;

Reg. 24(3)(g) substituted by S.R. No. 72/2018 reg. 6.

(g) in the case of a Schedule 8 poison, a monitored poison or a Schedule 9 poison if the prescription is for a person and not an animal, that person's date of birth;

Reg. 24(3)(ga) inserted by S.R. No. 72/2018 reg. 6.