The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025
Source: legislation.gov.uk (2025-08-01)

These Regulations amend the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994 (“the principal Regulations”) which prescribe the conditions for the course of pre-registration training and the registration examination required to be passed for registration as a pharmaceutical chemist with the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (“the Society”).

Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

2025 No. 117

Pharmacy

The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025

Made

25th June 2025

Coming into operation

1st August 2025

The Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland, with the approval of the Department of Health(1 (\"#f00001\")) in accordance with Article 25A(2) of the Pharmacy (Northern Ireland) Order 1976(2 (\"#f00002\")) makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 5(1) of the Pharmacy (Northern Ireland) Order 1976(3 (\"#f00003\")).

In accordance with Article 5(3) of that Order, the Department of Health has before approving these Regulations consulted the Department for the Economy(4 (\"#f00004\")).

Citation, commencement and interpretationN.I.

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 and shall come into operation on 1st August 2025.

Commencement Information

I1Reg. 1 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2025/117/regulation/1\") in operation at 1.8.2025, see reg. 1 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2025/117/regulation/1\")

2. In these Regulations “the principal Regulations” means the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994(5 (\"#f00005\")).

Commencement Information

I2Reg. 2 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2025/117/regulation/2\") in operation at 1.8.2025, see reg. 1 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2025/117/regulation/1\")

Amendment of the principal RegulationsN.I.

3. In regulation 1 of the principal Regulations, in paragraph (2)—

(a)in the definition of “approved degree”, after “Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain” insert “or the General Pharmaceutical Council”;

(b)before the definition of “the Order” insert—

““approved provider” means a provider of pre-registration training approved by the Council;

“the Council” shall have the same meaning as in Article 2(2) of the Order, meaning the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland;

“the General Pharmaceutical Council” means the body corporate established under Article 4 of the Pharmacy Order 2010;”;

(c)before the definition of “the Secretary” insert—

““registration examination” means any examination or assessment undertaken as part of, or following, the pre-registration training;”.

Commencement Information

I3Reg. 3 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2025/117/regulation/3\") in operation at 1.8.2025, see reg. 1 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2025/117/regulation/1\")

4. In regulation 8 of the principal Regulations, in paragraph (1)(b), after “Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain” insert “or the General Pharmaceutical Council”.

Commencement Information

I4Reg. 4 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2025/117/regulation/4\") in operation at 1.8.2025, see reg. 1 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2025/117/regulation/1\")

5. In regulation 9 of the principal Regulations—

(a)for paragraph (2) substitute—

“(2) The conditions referred to in paragraph (1) which a person is required to satisfy are that—

(a)he has satisfactorily completed a course of pre-registration training in accordance with the conditions set out in Schedule 1; and

(b)he has passed a registration examination approved by the Council in accordance with the conditions set out in Schedule 2.”;

(b)omit paragraph (3);

(c)in paragraph (4) -

(i)omit sub-paragraph (a);

(ii)in sub-paragraph (c) after “the Society” insert “or the General Pharmaceutical Council”.

Commencement Information

I5Reg. 5 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2025/117/regulation/5\") in operation at 1.8.2025, see reg. 1 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2025/117/regulation/1\")

6. Regulation 10 of the principal Regulations is omitted.

Commencement Information

I6Reg. 6 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2025/117/regulation/6\") in operation at 1.8.2025, see reg. 1 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2025/117/regulation/1\")

7. For Regulation 11 of the principal Regulations, substitute—

“11. A pharmacist registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council may be registered as a pharmaceutical chemist under the provisions of Article 8(4) of the Order.”.

Commencement Information

I7Reg. 7 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2025/117/regulation/7\") in operation at 1.8.2025, see reg. 1 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2025/117/regulation/1\")

8. For Schedule 1 (Form of Declaration) to the principal Regulations, substitute the Schedule 1 (Conditions for pre-registration training) set out in Schedule 1 (Schedule to be inserted as Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations) to these Regulations.

Commencement Information

I8Reg. 8 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2025/117/regulation/8\") in operation at 1.8.2025, see reg. 1 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2025/117/regulation/1\")

9. For Schedule 2 (Conditions applicable to Registration Examination) to the principal Regulations, substitute the Schedule 2 (Conditions for registration examination) set out in Schedule 2 (Schedule to be inserted as Schedule 2 to the principal Regulations) to these Regulations.

Commencement Information

I9Reg. 9 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2025/117/regulation/9\") in operation at 1.8.2025, see reg. 1 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2025/117/regulation/1\")

Sealed with the Common Seal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland on 25th June 2025.

Geraldine O’Hare

President of the Council of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland

Canice Ward

Chief Executive of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland

The Department of Health approves the Regulations.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health on 25th June 2025.

Cathy Harrison

A senior officer of the Department of Health

Regulation 8

SCHEDULE 1N.I.Schedule to be inserted as Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations

Commencement Information

I10Sch. 1 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2025/117/schedule/1\") in operation at 1.8.2025, see reg. 1 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2025/117/regulation/1\")

Regulation 9(2)(a)

“SCHEDULE 1N.I.Conditions for pre-registration training

1. The course of pre-registration training required to be satisfactorily completed under regulation 9(2)(a) must—

(a)be completed subsequent to having obtained an approved degree;

(b)be completed in Northern Ireland with an approved provider;

(c)be completed under the direct supervision of a registered person who has been designated by an approved provider;

(d)involve the application in practice of subjects studied in the approved degree;

(e)include 52 weeks of practical training;

(f)be undertaken in one or more of the following pharmaceutical practice settings—

(i)Community;

(ii)Hospital;

(iii)General practice;

(g)where the pre-registration trainee commenced their approved degree beginning with 1st September 2021 or after, include at least 90 hours of supervised practice forming part of the training programme accredited by the Society for the annotation “IP” (Independent Prescriber) under regulation 9(4)(c).

2. The approved provider, on behalf of and with the informed consent of the pre-registration trainee, shall notify the Council upon commencement of, and on the satisfactory completion of, the course of pre-registration training, including details of any registered person supervising the training and the date of commencement and completion of the training.”

Regulation 9

SCHEDULE 2N.I.Schedule to be inserted as Schedule 2 to the principal Regulations

Commencement Information

I11Sch. 2 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2025/117/schedule/2\") in operation at 1.8.2025, see reg. 1 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2025/117/regulation/1\")

Regulation 9(2)(b)

“SCHEDULE 2N.I.Conditions for registration examination

1. The syllabus and procedures for the registration examination shall be as approved and published by the Council from time to time.

2. The subjects for the registration examination shall include the Practice of Pharmacy including the implementation in practice of laws governing pharmacy and the application in practice of the Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Practice of the Society.

3. The registration examination may be undertaken by a pre-registration trainee—

(a)after completion of not less than 39 weeks of pre-registration training; and

(b)provided he has paid an examination fee of £174 to the registrar for each registration examination sat.

4. A pre-registration trainee shall sit the registration examination within 3 years of satisfactory completion of the course of pre-registration training.

5. The registrar may extend the period specified in paragraph 4 on a case-by-case basis in the event of extenuating circumstances, upon submission of supporting evidence.

6. A pre-registration trainee who fails the registration examination is permitted to retake the examination one or more times within the period specified in paragraph 4 or extended under paragraph 5.”

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994 (“the principal Regulations”) which prescribe the conditions for the course of pre-registration training and the registration examination required to be passed for registration as a pharmaceutical chemist with the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (“the Society”).

Regulations 3 and 4 amend regulations 1 and 8 of the principal Regulations to reflect the creation of the General Pharmaceutical Council (“GPhC”) as the statutory regulator of the pharmacy professions and pharmacy premises in Great Britain in place of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPhS) under Article 4 of the Pharmacy Act 2010. Regulation 3 also provides for definitions of “approved provider”, “the Council” and “the General Pharmaceutical Council” to provide clarity and a definition of “registration examination” to mean any examination or assessment undertaken as part of, or following, the pre-registration training.

Regulation 5(a) substitutes regulation 9(2) of the principal Regulations in respect of the conditions for the pre-registration course of practical training and the registration examination. Regulation 5(b) omits regulation 9(3) of the principal Regulations to remove the provisions allowing for annotation of a qualification as a supplementary prescriber, as this qualification is no longer available. Regulation 5(c) amends regulation 9(4) of the principal Regulations. It removes the requirement in regulation 9(4)(a) of the principal Regulations for a two-year period of registration before annotation of a qualification as an independent prescriber. For the purposes of “independent prescriber” annotation on the register, regulation 5(c) also adds the General Pharmaceutical Council at regulation 9(4)(c) of the principal Regulations, as another acceptable accreditor of independent prescriber training.

Regulation 6 omits regulation 10 of the principal Regulations and removes the current requirement on a person who holds an approved degree to notify the registrar of the date of commencement and other details of his proposed course of pre-registration training before embarking on that training as such notification is no longer required.

Regulation 7 amends regulation 11 of the principal Regulations to reflect the current arrangements for applicants with pharmacy qualifications or registration outside Northern Ireland.

Regulations 8 and 9 substitute Schedules 1 and 2 to the principal Regulations to reflect the revised conditions for the course of pre-registration training and the registration examination in line with the amendments to regulation 9 of the principal Regulations.

(1)

The Department of Health was formerly the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: see 2016 c.5 (N.I.) (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nia/2016/5\"), section 1(5) and formerly the Department of Health and Social Services: see S.I.1999/283 (N.I.1) (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisi/1999/283\"), Article 3(6).

(2)

Article 25A was inserted by Article 9 of S.R. 2012 No. 308 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2012/308\").

(3)

S.I. 1976/1213 (N.I. 22) (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisi/1976/1213\") the relevant amendments are 1981 c.55 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/1981/55\"), S.I. 1994/429 (N.I.2) (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisi/1994/429\"), S.R. 2004 No. 78 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2004/78\"), S.R. 2008 No. 192 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2008/192\"), S.R. 2012 No. 308 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2012/308\"), and S.I. 2015/806 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2015/806\").

(4)

Article 5(3) references consultation with the Department of Education. Relevant Department of Education function subsequently transferred to Department for the Economy; see S.R. 1999 No. 481 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/1999/481\"), 2001 c.15 (N.I.) (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nia/2001/15\"), 2016 c.5 (N.I.) (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nia/2016/5\"), and S.R, 2016 No. 76 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2016/76\").

(5)

S.R. 1994 No. 202 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/1994/202\") as amended by S.R. 1996 No. 187 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/1996/187\"), S.R. 1999 No 217 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/1999/217\"), S.R. 2002 No. 206 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2002/206\"), S.R. 2003 No. 356 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2003/356\"), S.R. 2004 No. 236 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2004/236\"), S.R. 2005 No. 63 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2005/63\"), S.R. 2006 Nos. 207 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2006/207\") and 240 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2006/240\"), S.R. 2007 No. 287 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2007/287\"), S.R. 2008 No. 222 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2008/222\"), S.R. 2009 No. 166 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2009/166\"), S.R. 2016 No. 170 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2016/170\") and S.R. 2017 No. 188 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2017/188\").