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UK Statutory Instrument
2010
United Kingdom
Pharmacy Order 2010
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
31 compliance obligations, 2 practical guides · 2 journeys
Penalty landscape
3 of 31 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 2 carry different penalties and 26 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 8
- Employee 3
- Trader 1
Plus 19 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 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
Employees also bound by 182 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (current NI employment law) 1996 13 duties
- Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 (Air Operations) 2012 12 duties
- Shared Parental Leave Regulations 2014 2014 10 duties
- The Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) Regulations 2003 2003 10 duties
- Paternity and Adoption Leave Regulations 2002 2002 9 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
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 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
The Council and its Committees
Standards and requirements: consultation and review
The Council’s general duties
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
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
Additional requirements for specified state professionals
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GPhC must ensure registration fees for certain professionals are fair 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
Accounts
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GPhC must keep and publish audited annual accounts Statutory regulator
Fitness to practise proceedings
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- GPhC must dispose of legacy fitness-to-practise cases fairly Statutory regulator
Offences relating to the Register: pharmacy technicians
- Use protected title or practise as pharmacy technician before registration deadline Any Person
Browse 137 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Transitional Provisions
Savings
Membership: general
Matters for the order of the Privy Council under article 4(2)
Powers of the Council
Registration of members’ private interests
The statutory committees
The Council’s duties in respect of publications
Annual reports, statistical information and strategic plans
Application and interpretation
Registration in respect of the provision of occasional services
Entitlement to provide occasional pharmacy services: first year
First provision of services: required documents
First provision of services: supplementary
Entitlement to provide occasional pharmacy services after the first year: renewals
Duration of entitlement to provide occasional pharmacy services
Conditions
Registration in respect of provision of occasional pharmacy services
Entitlement to provide occasional pharmacy services: first year
First provision of services: required documents
First provision of services: visiting practitioners from Northern Ireland
First provision of services: supplementary
Entitlement to provide occasional pharmacy services after the first year: renewals
Duration of entitlement to provide occasional pharmacy services
Conditions
Application and interpretation
Directive 2005/36/EC: European professional card
Introductory
European professional cards for establishment in a host State other than the United Kingdom
Issue of European professional card for establishment in Great Britain
Issue of European professional card for the provision of occasional pharmacy services in a host State other than the United Kingdom
Variation of a European professional card for the provision of occasional pharmacy services in a host State other than the United Kingdom
Requirement to register: establishment cases
Entitlement to registration: provision of occasional pharmacy services
Conditions in relation to fitness to practise: providers of occasional pharmacy services
Interpretation
Council not to request resubmission of valid documents
Power to revoke a European professional card
Rectification of the European professional card or the IMI file
Duty to give reasons and to notify of right of appeal
Updating the IMI file: disciplinary action or criminal sanctions
Access to data
Processing data
Amendment of the Medicines Act 1968
Amendment of the National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002
Amendment of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003
Amendment of the Health Act 2006
Amendment of the National Health Service Act 2006
Amendment of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006
Amendment of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
Amendment of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007
Amendment of the Medicines (Pharmacies) (Applications for Registration and Fees) Regulations 1973
Amendment of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975
Amendment of the Medicines (Bal Jivan Chamcho Prohibition) (No 2) Order 1977
Amendment of the Poisons Act 1972
Amendment of the Medicines (Sale or Supply) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 1980
Amendment of the Medicines (Pharmacy and General Sale – Exemption) Order 1980
Amendment of the Employment Agencies Act 1973 (Exemption) (No 2) Regulations 1984
Amendment of the Medicines (Fixing of Fees Relating to Medicinal Products for Human Use) Order 1989
Amendment of the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 1992
Amendment of the National Health Service (Service Committees and Tribunal) Regulations 1992
Amendment of the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations Etc.) Regulations 1994
Amendment of the Prescription Only Medicines (Human Use) Order 1997
Amendment of the Building Societies (Business Names) Regulations 1998
Amendment of the Feeding Stuffs (Enforcement) Regulations 1999
Amendment of the Race Relations Act 1976
Amendment of the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Regulations 2000
Amendment of the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001
Amendment of the Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 2001
Amendment of the Family Health Services Appeal Authority (Procedure) Rules 2001
Amendment of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001
Amendment of the Adults with Incapacity (Ethics Committee) (Scotland) Regulations 2002
Amendment of the Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 2002
Amendment of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exclusions and Exceptions) (Scotland) Order 2003
Amendment of the Medicines (Child Safety) Regulations 2003
Amendment of the National Health Service (Tribunal) (Scotland) Regulations 2004
Amendment of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978
Amendment of the National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations 2004
Amendment of the National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Wales) Regulations 2004
Amendment of the National Health Service (Personal Medical Services Agreements) Regulations 2004
Amendment of the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004
Amendment of the National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Scotland) Regulations 2004
Amendment of the National Health Service (Primary Medical Services Section 17C Agreements) (Scotland) Regulations 2004
Amendment of the Regulation of Care (Social Service Workers) (Scotland) Order 2005
Amendment of the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2005
Amendment of the Medicines for Human Use (Prescribing) Order 2005
Amendment of the Gender Recognition (Disclosure of Information) (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Order 2005
Amendment of the Value Added Tax Act 1994
Amendment of the Medicines (Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products for Human Use) Regulations 2005
Amendment of the Gender Recognition (Disclosure of Information) (Scotland) Order 2005
Amendment of the National Health Service (Discipline Committees) (Scotland) Regulations 2006
Amendment of the National Health Service (Local Pharmaceutical Services etc.) Regulations 2006
Amendment of the Controlled Drugs (Supervision of Management and Use) Regulations 2006
Amendment of the National Health Service (Free Prescriptions and Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Wales) Regulations 2007
Diwygio Rheoliadau’r Gwasanaeth Iechyd Gwladol (Presgripsiynau am Ddim a Ffioedd am Gyffuriau a Chyfarpar) (Cymru) 2007
Amendment of the National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) Order 2007
Revocation of the Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians Order 2007
Amendment of the Licensing (Relevant Offences) (Scotland) Regulations 2007
Amendment of the Data Protection Act 1998
Amendment of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Authorisations Extending to Scotland) Order 2007
Amendment of the Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) Order 2007
Amendment of the European Communities (Recognition of Professional Qualifications) Regulations 2007
Amendment of the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Scotland) Regulations 2008
Amendment of the Controlled Drugs (Drug Precursors) (Intra-Community Trade) Regulations 2008
Amendment of the Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 2008
Amendment of the Medicines (Pharmacies) (Responsible Pharmacist) Regulations 2008
Amendment of the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (Appointment, Procedure etc.) Regulations 2008
Amendment of the Controlled Drugs (Supervision of Management and Use) (Wales) Regulations 2008
Diwygio Rheoliadau Cyffuriau a Reolir (Goruchwylio Rheolaeth a Defnydd) (Cymru) 2008
Amendment of the Health Act 1999
Amendment of the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2009
Amendment of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2009
Amendment of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000
Amendment of the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Interpretation
Premises
Fees
(1) The revocation of Part 5 of and Part 4...
Proceedings under section 80 of the 1968 Act
Supply of information
Application of TUPE
Transfer of property, rights and liabilities
Grants and loans
Cancellation of elections to, and transitional measures relating to, the Council of the Society
Members of committees
Transfer of information to the Register
The register
Appealable registration decisions
(1) The revocation of article 44 of the 2007 Order...
Transitional arrangements: pharmacy technicians
Education and training
Medicines Act 1968
Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975
National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 1992
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exclusions and Exceptions) (Scotland) Order 2003
National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2005
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- MHRA — medicines and healthcare products regulation (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- General Optical Council (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- GP mythbuster 81: Pharmacy professionals in general practice - Care Quality Commission (opens in a new tab) from CQC Detailed Guidance
- 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
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.