Medicines Citation, commencement and interpretation 1 1 This Order may be cited as the Medicines for Human Use (Prescribing) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2008 and shall come into force on 4 th June 2008. 2 In this Order — “the POM Order ” means the Prescription Only Medicines (Human Use) Order 1997 ; and “the Pharmacy and General Sale Order ” means the Medicines (Pharmacy and General Sale—Exemption) Order 1980 . Amendment of article 1 of the POM Order 2 In article 1 of the POM Order (citation, commencement and interpretation), in paragraph (2) after the definition of “operator” insert the following definition— “optometrist independent prescriber” means a person— who is a registered optometrist, and against whose name is recorded in the relevant register an annotation signifying that he is qualified to order drugs, medicines and appliances as an optometrist independent prescriber; . Amendment of article 2 of the POM Order 3 In article 2 of the POM Order (appropriate practitioners), after paragraph (b) insert the following paragraph— c in relation to the descriptions and classes of medicinal products specified in article 3, other than medicinal products that are controlled drugs or for parenteral administration or both , optometrist independent prescribers. . Amendment of article 8 of the POM Order 4 In article 8 of the POM Order (exemptions for emergency sale or supply)— a in paragraph (2)— i in sub-paragraph (a), after “a nurse independent prescriber ” insert “, an optometrist independent prescriber”, ii in sub-paragraph (b), after “nurse independent prescriber” insert “, optometrist independent prescriber”, and iii in sub-paragraph (c), after “nurse independent prescriber” insert “, optometrist independent prescriber”; and b in paragraph (4), in sub-paragraph (a), in head (ii), after “nurse independent prescriber” insert “, optometrist independent prescriber”. Amendment of article 15 of the POM Order 5 In article 15 of the POM Order (prescriptions), in paragraph (2), in sub-paragraph (c)— a in head (iii), after “a nurse independent prescriber” insert “, an optometrist independent prescriber”; and b in head (iv), after “a nurse independent prescriber” insert “, an optometrist independent prescriber”. Amendment of article 1 of the Pharmacy and General Sale Order 6 In article 1 of the Pharmacy and General Sale Order (citation, commencement and interpretation), in paragraph (2), in sub-paragraph (a) after the definition of “operator” insert the following definition— “optometrist independent prescriber” means a person— who is a registered optometrist, and against whose name is recorded in the relevant register an annotation signifying that he is qualified to order drugs, medicines and appliances as an optometrist independent prescriber; . Amendment of article 4AA of the Pharmacy and General Sale Order 7 In article 4AA of the Pharmacy and General Sale Order (exemption for sale, offer for sale or supply in hospitals and health centres), after “a pharmacist independent prescriber” insert “, an optometrist independent prescriber”. Amendment of Schedule 3 to the Pharmacy and General Sale Order 8 In Schedule 3 to the Pharmacy and General Sale Order, in Part III (classes of individual by whom supplies may be made), for “registered ophthalmic opticians” substitute “registered optometrists”. Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Health. Dawn Primarolo Minister of State, Department of Health 22nd April 2008 Michael McGimpsey Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety 16th April 2008