Citation and commencement

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Misuse of Drugs (Supply to Addicts) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 and shall come into force on 31st October 2012.

Amendment of the Misuse of Drugs (Supply to Addicts) Regulations 1997

2. The Misuse of Drugs (Supply to Addicts) Regulations 1997(2) are amended as follows.

3. In regulation 3-

(a)in paragraph (1)(b) for "Secretary of State" substitute "appropriate authority"(3);

(b)after paragraph (1) insert-

"(1A) Any licence issued by the appropriate authority in pursuance of these Regulations may permit a doctor to administer, supply or prescribe a drug, or to authorise the administration or supply of a drug, only while at an address specified in that licence."; and

(c)in paragraph (2) after "issued to him" insert "by the appropriate authority".

Transitional provision

4. Notwithstanding regulation 3(a) and (c), any licence issued by the Secretary of State before the coming into force of these Regulations shall continue in force as if these Regulations had not been made.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Misuse of Drugs (Supply to Addicts) Regulations 1997 (the "1997 Regulations") to the effect that, on the coming into force of section 19(2) of the Scotland Act 2012 which amends section 10 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, the relevant licensing authority for the purposes of any licence issued under the 1997 Regulations is the Scottish Ministers where the licence specifies an address in Scotland, and the Secretary of State where the licence specifies an address in England and Wales. Regulation 3(b) inserts new paragraph (1A) into regulation 3 of the 1997 Regulations which provides that any licence issued under the 1997 Regulations may permit a doctor to administer, supply or prescribe a drug, or to authorise the administration or supply of a drug, only while at an address specified in that licence. Regulation 4 makes transitional provision for licences issued under the 1997 Regulations before the coming into force of these Regulations and provides that such licences are to continue in force.