§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the legislative differences relating to drugs which are classified as schedule 3 as compared with those classified as schedule 4; and if he will make a statement. [19014]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe differences between the controls on drugs in schedule 3 and those in schedule 4 to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1985 are as follows
possession of schedule 3 drugs requires authority. Possession of schedule 4 drugs does not require authority when they are in the form of medicinal products;import and export licences are required for schedule 3 drugs but not for schedule 4 drugs;certain schedule 3 drugs are subject to the Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) Regulations 1973 which require them to be kept in a locked cabinet or locked receptacle. The remaining schedule 3 and all schedule 4 drugs are exempted from these requirements;216Wschedule 3 drugs are subject to specific requisitioning requirements; prescriptions must be handwritten by doctors; specified checks must be made before the drugs may be supplied on prescription; and containers must be labelled. Schedule 4 drugs are exempted from these requirements.