United Kingdom Statutory Instruments

(a) regulation 2(a) increases the fees for registration of premises at which a retail pharmacy business is, or is to be, carried on from £460 to £474 (where the premises are in Great Britain) and from £90 to £93 (where the premises are in Northern Ireland);

(b) regulation 2(b) increases subsequent annual fees (retention fees) from £137 to £150 (where the premises are in Great Britain) and from £118 to £130 (where the premises are in Northern Ireland);

(c) regulation 2(c) increases the penalty for failure to pay retention fees (payable in circumstances specified in section 76(2) of the Medicines Act 1968) from £460 to £474 (where the premises are in Great Britain) and from £262 to £270 (where the premises are in Northern Ireland).

These Regulations also revoke the Medicines (Pharmacies) (Applications for Registration and Fees) Amendment Regulations 2004, which increased the fees in the principal Regulations, the effect of which is spent on the coming into force of these Regulations.

A full Regulatory Impact Assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business is available from the Department of Health, Pharmacy and Prescription Branch, Room 520, Eileen House, 80-90 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6EE. Copies have been placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament.