Drug laws and licensing
Licensing
Companies and individuals within England, Wales or Scotland need to apply for Home Office licences if they wish to produce, supply, possess or import/export controlled drugs .
What's new
30 June 2008 - Changes to destruction authorities
After discussions with the Department of Health we agreed to issue an authority to enable the nomination of person(s) to witness destructions of controlled drugs under the control of and by;
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public limited companies operating retail pharmacies;
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persons in charge or acting persons in charge of private hospitals providing palliative care or hospices wholly or mainly maintained by a public authority out of public funds or by a charity or by voluntary subscriptions.
This arrangement has ceased to apply to England and Scotland but will remain in force for Wales until 31 December 2008.
View the destruction authority
7 March 2008 - New regulations for precursor chemicals
Regulations to implement Council Regulation (EC) 273/2004 on the Intra-Community Trade in Drug Precursors and Council Regulation (EC) 111/2005 on the Community External Trade in Drug Precursors came into force on 7 March 2008.
For more information see Home Office Circular 005/2008 (new window)
30 January 2008 - Group licence for registered paramedics
A group licence has been issued to enable registered paramedics to possess certain controlled drugs for the immediate treatment of sick or injured persons.
1 January 2008 - Changes to personal export/import licences
Personal export/import licences are required only by travellers intending to be abroad/visiting the United Kingdom for longer than three months.
Who needs a licence?
The Home Office Drugs Licensing is the UK's competent authority for the purposes of the United Nations Conventions on controlled drugs.
We issue licenses for those who work with controlled drugs, including:
- companies who intend to work with controlled drugs
- doctors prescribing certain drugs to addicts
- people taking their medication on trips abroad
For more information, please read our general guidance.
Explore this section:
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Licence application forms for businesses, companies,other organisationsand doctors.
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Licence application form for individuals planning to travel with controlled drugs.
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Licence application forms for companies intending to import/export controlled drugs.
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Annual compliance statements for completion by all licensees.
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Annual returns forms, for completion where required,by businesses, companies andother organisationslicensed to produce, possess and supplycontrolled drugs.
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Licence application forms forbusinesses, companies andother organisationstrading in or using precursor chemicals.
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Contact details for Drugs Licensing.
