Supervision law changes coming into force

We have previously reported the changes to be made to the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 which will allow the handing out of medicines in the absence of a pharmacist, and which will allow pharmacists to authorise pharmacy technicians to supervise the sale or supply of Pharmacy medicines and Prescription Only Medicines. We can now provide PLEA members with news about the timing for bringing the changes into force.

The Human Medicines (Authorisation by Pharmacists and Supervision by Pharmacy Technicians) Order 2025 has been approved by Parliament and the Privy Council. The information below has been supplied to PLEA by the Department of Health and Social Care which acknowledges the engagement and support of PLEA and other interested parties that responded to its consultation.

Coming into Force

7 January 2026

Allow pharmacists to authorise – when absent or treated as absent – the handing out checked and bagged prescriptions (Human Medicines Regulation 2012, Regulation 220B)

10 December 2026*

Remaining provisions – including: Allow pharmacists to authorise a pharmacy technician to undertake or supervise the preparation, assembly, dispensing and sale and supply of medicines, that would otherwise need to be performed by or under the supervision of a pharmacist (Medicines Act 1968, Section 10 and 10A and Human Medicines Regulations 2012, Regulation 220A) Allow pharmacy technicians to take primary responsibility for the preparation and assembly of medicinal products in hospital aseptic facilities (Human Medicines Regulations 2012, Regulation 4A)

*A one-year transition period will allow time for the pharmacy regulators and professional leadership bodies to develop and publish supporting professional standards and guidance. This will be enacted by a further commencement order which will be agreed with the Privy Council and published in the new year.

Professional Guidance for Great Britain
Guidance published by The Royal Pharmaceutical Society – Authorisation by a pharmacist who is absent or treated as absent – handing out checked and bagged prescriptions  is available as an open-access document on its website.

Details on further professional guidance, standards, and regulations to support the implementation of this legislation will be published ahead of the other measures coming into force on 10 December 2026.

Matters relating to Northern Ireland

The Pharmacy Forum NI are developing professional guidance for pharmacists registered and working in Northern Ireland. These resources, along with other support, will be communicated to stakeholders in due course.

Pharmacy technicians are not a registered profession in NI, therefore only the measures concerning the handing out of checked and bagged prescriptions will apply in NI.

When pharmacy technicians become a registered profession in NI, likely by April 2027, DHSC will work with the Department of Health NI to enact the other changes as soon as possible.