For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.

Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)

Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties

Traders also bound by 826 other Acts (top 5 shown)

Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 413 duties
Companies Act 2006 2006 243 duties
The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 2008 114 duties
Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 62 duties
Building Societies Act 1986 1986 56 duties

Manufacturers also bound by 472 other Acts (top 5 shown)

Pressure Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 2016 91 duties
Lifts Regulations 2016 2016 70 duties
The Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products and Energy Information Regulations 2021 2021 70 duties
Non-Automatic Weighing Instruments Regulations 2016 2016 67 duties
Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015 2015 64 duties

Distributors also bound by 177 other Acts (top 5 shown)

The Marketing of Fruit Plant and Propagating Material (England) Regulations 2017 2017 28 duties
The Marketing of Fruit Plant and Propagating Material (Wales) Regulations 2017 2017 26 duties
The Marketing of Fruit Plant and Propagating Material Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 2017 25 duties
Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations 2002 2002 21 duties
THE ELECTRICITY SAFETY, QUALITY AND CONTINUITY REGULATIONS (NORTHERN IRELAND) 2012 2012 19 duties

What this Act requires

Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.

Schedules

Browse 38 other Schedules — structural / supplementary

s.002

CONTROLLED DRUGS SUBJECT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF REGULATIONS 14, 15, 16, 16A, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 26 AND 27

s.003

CONTROLLED DRUGS SUBJECT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF REGULATIONS 14, 15 ..., 16, 18, 22, 23, 24, 26 AND 27

s.006

FORM OF REGISTER

s.sch001

The following substances and products, namely -

s.sch001

Any stereoisomeric form of a substance specified in paragraph 1....

s.sch001

Any ester or ether of a substance specified in paragraph...

s.sch001

Any salt of a substance specified in any of paragraphs...

s.sch001

Any preparation or other product containing a substance or product...

s.sch001

But paragraphs 1 to 5 do not include a cannabis-based...

s.sch002

The following substances and products, namely— Acetorphine Alfentanil Allylprodine Alphacetylmethadol...

s.sch002

Any stereoisomeric form of a substance specified in paragraph 1...

s.sch002

Any ester or ether of a substance specified in paragraph...

s.sch002

Any salt of a substance specified in any of paragraphs...

s.sch002

Any preparation or other product containing a substance or product...

s.sch002

But paragraphs 2 to 5 only apply in respect of...

s.sch002

The following substances and products, namely— Acetyldihydrocodeine Methaqualone Amphetamine Methylamphetamine...

s.sch002

Any stereoisomeric form of a substance specified in paragraph 6....

s.sch002

Any salt of a substance specified in paragraph 6 or...

s.sch002

Any preparation or other product containing a substance or product...

s.sch003

The following substances, namely— (a) Benzphetamine 7-bromo-5-(2-chlorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-2 H -1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one...

s.sch003

Any stereoisomeric form of a substance specified in paragraph 1...

s.sch003

Any— (a) ester or ether of pipradrol; or

s.sch003

Any salt of a substance specified in any of paragraphs...

s.sch003

Any preparation or other product containing a substance specified in...

s.sch004

A liquid formulation— (a) containing a botanical extract of cannabis—...

s.sch004

Any salt of a substance specified or described in any...

s.sch004

Any preparation or other product containing a substance or product...

s.sch005

(1) Any preparation of one or more of the substances...

s.sch005

A liquid formulation— (a) containing cannabidiol obtained by extraction and...

s.sch005

Nitrous oxide.

s.sch005

Any preparation of medicinal opium or of morphine containing (in...

s.sch005

Any preparation of dextropropoxyphene, being a preparation designed for oral...

s.sch005

Any preparation of difenoxin containing, per dosage unit, not more...

s.sch005

Any preparation of diphenoxylate containing, per dosage unit, not more...

s.sch005

Any preparation of propiram containing, per dosage unit, not more...

s.sch005

Any powder of ipecacuanha and opium comprising— 10% opium, in...

s.sch005

Any mixture containing one or more of the preparations specified...

s.sch008

Any of the following persons may supply or administer a...

s.014

Documents to be obtained by supplier of controlled drugs

Obtain proper documentation before supplying controlled drugs Distributor

s.015

Form of prescriptions

Unlimited fine

Ensure controlled drug prescriptions meet strict formatting requirements Any Person

s.016

Orders, supply and use of cannabis-based products for administration

Strictly follow rules for ordering, supplying, or using medicinal cannabis Any Person

s.018

Marking of bottles and other containers

Clearly label containers when supplying controlled drugs Any Person

s.019

Record-keeping requirements in respect of drugs in Schedules 1 and 2

Unlimited fine

Keep a controlled drugs register for Schedule 1 and 2 drugs Any Person

s.020

Requirements as to registers

Maintain controlled drug registers with specific formatting and entries Any Person

s.022

Record-keeping requirements in respect of drugs in Schedules 3 and 4

Unlimited fine

Keep records of Schedule 3 and 4 controlled drugs Any Person

s.023

Preservation of registers, books and other documents

Keep controlled drug registers and prescriptions for two years Trader

s.024

Preservation of records relating to drugs in Schedules 3 and 5

Keep records of Schedule 3 and 5 controlled drugs for two years Manufacturer

s.026

Furnishing of information with respect to controlled drugs

Provide information and stock for inspection on demand Any Person

s.027

Destruction of controlled drugs

Unlimited fine

Ensure controlled drugs are destroyed in the presence of an authorised person Any Person

Browse 29 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement

s.001

Citation and commencement

s.002

Interpretation

s.002

Any stereoisomeric form of a substance specified in paragraph 1....

s.003

Specification of controlled drugs for purposes of Regulations

s.003

Any salt of a substance specified in paragraph 1 or...

s.004

Exceptions for drugs in Schedules 4 and 5 and poppy-straw

s.005

Licences to produce etc. controlled drugs

s.006

General authority to supply and possess

s.007

Administration of drugs in Schedules 2, 3, 4 and 5

s.008

Production and supply of drugs in Schedules 2 and 5

s.009

Production and supply of drugs in Schedules 3 and 4

s.010

Possession of drugs in Schedules 2, 3 , 4 and nitrous oxide

s.011

Exemption for midwives

s.012

Cultivation under licence of cannabis plant

s.013

Approval of premises for cannabis smoking for research purposes

s.016

Provisions as to supply on prescription

s.017

Exemption for certain prescriptions

s.021

Record-keeping requirements in respect of drugs in Schedule 2 in particular cases

s.025

Exempt products

s.028

Revocations

s.authority for nurse independent prescribers and ph

Authority for Nurse Independent Prescribers and Pharmacist Independent Prescribers to prescribe

s.authority for physiotherapist independent prescrib

Authority for Physiotherapist Independent Prescribers and Chiropodist Independent Prescribers to prescribe

s.authority for therapeutic radiographer independent

Authority for therapeutic radiographer independent prescribers and paramedic independent prescribers to prescribe

s.directions of a practitioner while a disease is, o

Directions of a practitioner while a disease is, or in anticipation of a disease being imminently, pandemic etc.

s.exceptions for drugs in schedule 1

Exceptions for drugs in Schedule 1

s.exceptions for gamma–butyrolactone and 1,4–butaned

Exceptions for gamma–butyrolactone and 1,4–butanediol

s.exemptions for nitrous oxide

Exemptions for nitrous oxide

s.preservation of records: supplementary

Preservation of records: supplementary

s.supply of articles for administering or preparing

Supply of articles for administering or preparing controlled drugs

Read the full Act on legislation.gov.uk

Official guidance

Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.

Controlled drugs: recording, using, storing and disposal (opens in a new tab) from VMD Detailed Guidance
Prescribing without access to patient records - GMC (opens in a new tab) from GMC Detailed Guidance
Cannabis-based medicinal products: what CQC expects from providers - Care Quality Commission (opens in a new tab) from CQC Detailed Guidance
Cannabis-based medicinal products: Cannabidiol (CBD) ‘oil’ products - Care Quality Commission (opens in a new tab) from CQC Detailed Guidance
GP mythbuster 28: Management of controlled drugs - Care Quality Commission (opens in a new tab) from CQC Detailed Guidance
Controlled drugs in home care - Care Quality Commission (opens in a new tab) from CQC Detailed Guidance
Controlled drugs in care homes - Care Quality Commission (opens in a new tab) from CQC Detailed Guidance
Home Office — controlled drugs: licences, fees and returns (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
MHRA — register as a manufacturer, importer or distributor of active substances (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
MHRA — apply for a manufacturer or wholesaler of medicines licence (opens in a new tab) from MHRA Detailed Guidance
... and 3 more

Enforcement and responsible bodies

The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.

MHRA

Primary

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

Regulates medicines, medical devices, and blood components. Ensures safety, quality, and efficacy. Issues marketing authorisations.

Home Office

Government department responsible for immigration, security, and law and order. Administers UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), issues sponsor licences for employers hiring …

At a glance

Who this Act binds

Step-by-step journeys using this legislation

Relevant guidance

Supporting — topic alignment

Other Acts binding the same actors

What this Act requires

Schedules

Official guidance

Enforcement and responsible bodies

Explore more