§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what regulations or conventions there are for use of fluted bottles for toxic materials; and what changes are envisaged in such regulations or practices.
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§ Dr. SummerskillRule 26(1)(6) of the Poisons Rules 1972 at present makes it an offence to sell or supply certain liquid poisons in a bottle of a capacity of not more than 40 fluid ounces (1.14 litres) unless the outer surface of that bottle is fluted.
The Poisons Board is currently considering the need to retain this requirement in revised Poisons Rules which will shortly be needed for the purpose of bringing into operation the Poisons Act 1972. In that consideration the Board is taking account of the provisions of the EEC directive on the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances which apply to certain substances in the Poisons List and under which a fluting requirement may no longer be permitted.
I understand that the Department of Health and Social Security, which will shortly assume responsibility for the sales control of medicinal poisons when Part III of the Medicines Act 1968 is implemented, is considering the nature of the requirement to be made under that Act in respect of certain medicinal poisons.