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Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland
Dangerous Drugs
Made
23rd May 2022
Coming into operation
14th June 2022
The Department of Health( 1), makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 7, 10, 22 and 31 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971( 2) as adapted by sections 7(9), 31(4) and 38 of that Act and now vested in it( 3) and after consultation with the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs in accordance with section 31(3) of that Act.
1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) (Revocation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 and shall come into operation on 14th June 2022.
2. The Misuse of Drugs (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021( 4) are revoked.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health on 23rd May 2022.
(L.S.)
Cathy Harrison
A senior officer of the Department of Health
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations revoke the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (“ the 2021 Regulations”).
The 2021 Regulations removed regulation 4B of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 (“ the 2002 Regulations”), that made it lawful to import, export, produce, supply, offer to supply or possess Gamma–butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4–Butanediol (1,4-BD) in certain circumstances. The 2021 Regulations also added 1,4-Butanediol (1,4-BD) and Gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) to Schedule 1 to the 2002 Regulations. The Schedule in which a controlled drug is placed affects the extent to which the drug can be lawfully imported, exported, produced, supplied or possessed. The controlled drugs placed in Schedule 1 to the 2002 Regulations are those subject to the tightest controls, requiring a Department of Health licence in order to access such drugs.
Revocation of the 2021 Regulations means that the exemption in regulation 4B of the 2002 Regulations will remain in force and 1,4-Butanediol (1,4-BD) and Gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) will not be placed in Schedule 1, so a Department of Health controlled drugs licence will not be required in order to lawfully import, export, produce, supply or possess these drugs.
Formerly the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety; see 2016 c. 5 (N.I.), s. 1(5)
1971 c. 38, as amended by the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13)
S.R. & O. (N. I.) 1973 No. 504, Article 5(a) and S.I. 1999/283 (N.I. 1), Article 3(6)