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UK Statutory Instrument
2010
United Kingdom
Pharmacy Order 2010
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
28 compliance obligations, 2 practical guides · 2 journeys
Penalty landscape
3 of 28 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 1 carries different penalties and 24 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 7
- Employee 3
- Trader 1
Plus 17 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
Healthcare compliance quick check
- 1 step
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Supporting — topic alignment
2 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
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 749 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 110 duties
- Licensing Act 2003 2003 105 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 97 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 86 duties
Employees also bound by 53 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (current NI employment law) 1996 13 duties
- The Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) Regulations 2003 2003 10 duties
- Shared Parental Leave Regulations 2014 2014 10 duties
- Paternity and Adoption Leave Regulations 2002 2002 9 duties
- Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 2006 5 duties
Traders also bound by 219 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 952 duties
- TULRCA 1992 1992 39 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 39 duties
- Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 2013 39 duties
- The Customs (Import Duty) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 2018 33 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.
Part 1 — Preliminary
Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 2 — The Council and its Committees
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 3 — Registered Pharmacies: Standards in retail pharmacies
Standards: general
- Meet GPhC standards for retail pharmacy businesses Trader
The Inspectorate
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GPhC must establish an inspectorate to monitor pharmacy compliance Statutory regulator
Inspection and enforcement
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GPhC must set inspection rules and may publish pharmacy inspection reports Statutory regulator
Obstruction: offences
Fine up to £1,000- Obstruct inspector or withhold/falsify information Any Person
Non-compliance with improvement notices
Unlimited fine- Fail to comply with improvement notice Any Person
Offences committed by partnerships
Unlimited fine- Offences committed by partnerships Any Person
Browse 5 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Power of entry
Powers of an inspector
Improvement notices
Appeals against improvement notices
Powers of a court on appeal
Part 4 — Registration
Entitlement to entry in Part 1 or 2 of the Register: pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
- Register as a pharmacist or pharmacy technician Any Person
Notification by the Registrar: entry and renewal
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GPhC must process pharmacist and technician registrations within set timelines Statutory regulator
Notice of entry in the Register
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GPhC Registrar must issue notice of entry in the Register Statutory regulator
Corrections to the Register
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GPhC Registrar must maintain and correct the pharmacy registers Statutory regulator
Indemnity arrangements
- Maintain appropriate professional indemnity insurance Employee
Offences relating to the Register
Unlimited fine- Misrepresent pharmacy registration or use unregistered titles Any Person
Additional requirements for specified state professionals
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GPhC must ensure registration fees for certain professionals are fair Statutory regulator
Article 20: further provision relating to specified state professionals
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GPhC must set aptitude tests and adaptation periods for certain professionals Statutory regulator
Supplementary provisions as to necessary knowledge of English
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GPhC must publish guidance on English language requirements Statutory regulator
Browse 20 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
The Registrar
Establishment, maintenance of and access to the Register
Pre-entry requirements in respect of qualifications and additional education, training or experience: pharmacists
Pre-entry requirements in respect of qualifications and additional education, training or experience: pharmacy technicians
Form, manner and content of applications for entry or for renewal of an entry in the Register: pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
Duration of entry
Specialisations: registrants and registered pharmacies
Registrants’ duties with regard to their entries
Fitness to practise matters before entry or renewal of an entry
Voluntary removal from the Register
Visiting pharmacists and pharmacy technicians from relevant European States
Temporary entry with regard to emergencies involving loss of human life or human illness etc.
Temporary annotations with regard to emergencies involving loss of human life or human illness etc.
Fees in connection with entry
Restoration to the Register of persons or premises removed from the Register
Appealable decisions
Appeals to the Appeals Committee
Appeals from the Appeals Committee
European professional card
European qualifications: pharmacists
Part 5 — Education, training and acquisition of experience and continuing professional development
Continuing professional development
- Maintain and record continuing professional development (CPD) Employee
Specific obligations and powers of the Council in respect of education and training
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GPhC must set pharmacy education standards and manage training premises Statutory regulator
Visitors
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GPhC must send inspection reports to providers and allow for responses Statutory regulator
Information to be given by institutions or other providers
- Provide information and assistance to the GPhC upon request Any Person
Refusal or withdrawal of approval of courses, qualifications and institutions
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GPhC must follow due process before withdrawing course or institution approval Statutory regulator
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Education, training and acquisition of experience
Professional traineeships carried out in other relevant European States, etc.
Part 6 — Fitness to practise
Standards of conduct and performance
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GPhC must set and publish standards for pharmacy professionals Statutory regulator
Initial action in respect of allegations
- Provide employment and engagement details to the GPhC during an investigation Employee
Consideration by the Investigating Committee
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GPhC Investigating Committee must decide on fitness to practise referrals Statutory regulator
Consideration by the Fitness to Practise Committee
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GPhC Fitness to Practise Committee must determine and act on allegations Statutory regulator
Professional performance assessments
- Produce professional records to GPhC assessors upon request Any Person
Restoration of names to the Register: fitness to practise
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GPhC must refer restoration applications to the Fitness to Practise Committee Statutory regulator
Information for specified state professionals
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GPhC must provide information and respond to enquiries from state professionals Statutory regulator
Browse 8 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Disclosure of information: general
Disclosure of fitness to practise matters in the public interest
Impairment of fitness to practise
Interim orders
Appeals against appealable fitness to practise decisions
The taking effect of directions in respect of appealable fitness to practise decisions
Interim measures pending a direction taking effect
Knowledge of English assessments
Part 7 — Proceedings
Rules in respect of proceedings
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GPhC must establish procedural rules for fitness to practise and appeals Statutory regulator
Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 8 — Miscellaneous
Browse 7 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
General fees
Rules
The Directive: designation of competent authority etc.
Amendments, repeals and revocations
Transitional, transitory and saving provisions
Privy Council procedures etc.
Review
Schedules
Browse 3 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Transitional Provisions
Savings
Directive 2005/36/EC: European professional card
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- PSNI registration (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- GMC revalidation guidance (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
General Pharmaceutical Council
Statutory regulator for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy premises in Great Britain. Sets standards for pharmacy education, ethics, and practice. Inspects registered …
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Browse legislation
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Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.