Poisons Act 1972

Poisons Act 1972
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act to consolidate certain enactments relating to poisons.
Citation1972 c. 66
Territorial extent England and Wales and Scotland
Dates
Royal assent9 August 1972
Commencement1 February 1978
Other legislation
Amended by
  • Control of Poisons and Explosives Precursors Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/966)
  • European Qualifications (Health and Social Care Professions) Regulations 2007 (SI 2007/3101)
  • Dental Qualifications (Recognition) Regulations 1996 (SI 1996/1496)
  • Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 (c. 39)
  • Criminal Procedure (Consequential Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1995 (c. 40)
  • Pharmacists (Fitness to Practise) Act 1997 (c. 19)
Relates to
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
Revised text of statute as amended

The Poisons Act 1972 (c. 66) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom making provisions for the sale of non-medicinal poisons, and the involvement of local authorities and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain in their regulation.

The act refers to the Pharmacy and Poisons Act 1933, and the Poisons List. Non-medical poisons are divided into two separate lists. List one substances may only be sold by a registered pharmacist, and list two substances may be sold by a registered pharmacist or a licensed retailer.

Further provisions are made, to enable the Royal Pharmaceutical Society to enforce the compliance with the act by pharmacists, and impose fines for breaches.

Local authorities are responsible for vetting applications for list two substances, for law enforcement and control of licensed premises.