Poisons & Chemicals

Question 1

Are pharmacist’s able to make transactions and take requests for chemicals for non-medicinal purposes?

Answer 1

YES - although not a core role anymore

Question 2

What is a Chemical Suspicious Activity Report?

Answer 2

a report that is sent to the Serious Organised Crime Agency as there is suspicion of inappropriate use of chemicals as a result of a request to you in the pharmacy

Question 3

What is CLP legislation?

Answer 3

a globalised harmonised system on the 
- Classification 
- Labelling 
- Packaging 
of substances and mixtures (chemicals) to guide the protection of people and the environment 

previously known as CHIP

Question 4

What substances does the CLP legislation NOT apply to?

Answer 4

chemicals that are in their finished state intended for the final user

• medicines
• medical devices
• veterinary medicines
• cosmetics
• food
• feeding stuffs

Question 5

What are the different categories of danger of poisons and chemicals?

Answer 5

• physiochemical (explosive/oxidising/flammable)
• health effects (toxic/harmful/corrosive/irritant/carcinogenic)
• environmental effects

Question 6

Who is responsible for ensuring the substances and mixtures are labelled and packaged correctly before getting to market?

Answer 6

all of those in the supply chain

when storing/selling chemicals to 3rd parties, pharmacist’s often rely on the labelling information provided by manufacturers

Question 7

What are the labelling requirements for chemicals?

Answer 7

• firmly affixed
• placed so it may be read horizontally
• clearly and indelibly marked
• name/address/telephone number of a supplier within the EEA, including the pharmacist
• name & quantity of the substance
• product identifiers (European Community Number)

Question 8

What other applicable requirements are there for chemicals?

Answer 8

• hazard pictograms
• signal warning
• HAZARD STATMENTS
• PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS
• supplemental information

Question 9

What is a hazard statement?

Answer 9

a phrase that describes the NATURE of the hazard, a description

e.g. heating MAY cause an explosion

Question 10

What is a precautionary statement?

Answer 10

a phrase that describes recommended measures to AVOID the hazard itself

e.g. keep away from heat/sparks/open flames/hot surfaces/no smoking

the action to PREVENT the hazard

Question 11

What does the packaging of chemicals require?

Answer 11

• prevent the chemical from escaping
• not be adversely affected by the chemical itself
• strong enough to withstand usual handling
• child resistant fastenings
• tactical warnings of danger

Question 12

What chemicals to chiropodists use that fall outside the definition of a medical product and fall under the requirements of CLP?

Answer 12

• liquid phenol
• pyrogallol
• monocholoracetic acid
• salicylic acid

Question 13

If a poison is used as a medicinal product, where is that poison regulated?

Answer 13

HMR 2012 under the Medicines Act 1968

Question 14

If a poison is used as a non-medicinal product, where is that poison regulated?

Answer 14

Poisons Act 1972

Question 15

What other primary piece of legislation amended the Poisons Act 1972?

Answer 15

Deregulation Act 2015

Control of Poisons and Explosive Precursors Regs 2015

Question 16

What are the four separate parts of the Deregulation Act 2012?

Answer 16

Part 1 - Regulated Explosive Precursors
Part 2 - Regulated Poisons
Part 3 - Reportable Explosive Precursors
Part 4 - Reportable Poisons

Question 17

Which parts of the Deregulation Act 2015 require a license?

Answer 17

Parts 1 and 2 (REGULATED)
It is an offence to possess/use a regulated substance without an EPP licence

Reportable (Parts 3 and 4) do not need a license

Question 18

Which license does the parts of Deregulation Act 2015 require from the Home Office?

Answer 18

an EPP = Explosive Precursor and Poisons Licence
you apply online;
- must provide evidence of identity and address
- may need a certificate of good standing
- may need a doctor’s report
- checks will be made by the Home Office

Question 19

How long does an EPP last for?

Answer 19

3 years

Question 20

What part of the Deregulation Act 2015 requires a record to be made after a sale, and what are the requirements of the record?

Answer 20

Part 2 Regulated Poisons in a Poisons Register

1. Date of Sale
2. Name and Address of Purchaser
3. Name and Quantity of Poison Supplied
4. Purpose for which required
5. Signature of the purchaser

ALSO make a record on the purchaser’s EPP license - what you supplied and how much

Question 21

What additional warning label is required on parts 1 and 2 of the Deregulation Act 2015?

Answer 21

‘acquisition. possession or use by the general public is restricted’

Question 22

Failure to report any suspicious activity regarding regulated/reportable poisons is an offence - true or false?

Answer 22

TRUE

• Significant Disappearances - Local Police
• Thefts - Local Police
• Suspicious Transactions & Requests - AntiTerrorist Hotline

Question 23

What are the changes as of the Deregulation Act 2015?

Answer 23

• license required for the purchase or REGULATED substances
• pharmacist’s duty to check the label
• pharmacist’s duty to check the license
• pharmacy duty to report suspicious activity for regulated and reportable substances

Question 24

What are the storage requirements of regulated/reportable poisons in any retail shop?

Answer 24

• in a cupboard/drawer reserved SOLELY for storage of poisons OR
• in a part of the premises partitioned off/separated from the rest of the premises with NO access to customers OR
• on a shelf reserved solely for the storage of poisons with no food kept directly underneath

they need to be SEPARATE from everything else

Question 25

What are COSHH risk assessments?

Answer 25

• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regs 2002
• to control employees and other persons that may be exposed to these substances
• needs to be carried out by pharmacists before storing/selling poisons