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Pharmacists will be able to authorise pharmacy technicians to hand out checked and bagged prescriptions from 7 January 2026, the regulator has announced.
In a statement published on 12 December 2025, the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) said that changes to the Human Medicines (Authorisation by Pharmacists and Supervision by Pharmacy Technicians) Order 2025 have been approved by Parliament and the Privy Council, allowing the legislation to take effect.
“[Remaining provisions] will come into effect from 10 December 2026, once the GPhC, Pharmaceutical Society NI and professional leadership bodies have published supporting professional standards and guidance,” the regulator said.
According to the statement, these changes will allow pharmacists to authorise a pharmacy technician to undertake or supervise the preparation, assembly, dispensing and sale and supply of medicines that would otherwise need to be performed or supervised by a pharmacist.
The changes will also enable pharmacy technicians to take primary responsibility for the preparation and assembly of medicinal products in hospital aseptic facilities, it said.
The GPhC added: “The new legislation introduced by governments across Great Britain aims to enable pharmacists to deliver more patient-facing clinical services and enable pharmacy technicians to maximise their contribution to pharmaceutical care through effective use of their skills and expertise.”
The changes follow draft legislation, published by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in July 2025, after a consultation on proposals to amend the Medicines Act 1968 and the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.
The DHSC said at the time that the legislation was “expected to come into effect by the end of 2025, and the bulk of the measures will have a one-year transition period to allow for the development of professional standards and guidance”.
In its statement, the GPhC said it would “shortly” begin a public consultation on draft standards for Superintendent Pharmacists and Responsible Pharmacists, and rules for Responsible Pharmacists, which will support the implementation of the legislation, “once some final changes discussed at the [December 2025 council] meeting have been made to the current drafts”.
“The new standards and rules will clarify and strengthen the organisational governance arrangements for registered pharmacies, specifically in respect of Superintendent Pharmacists and Responsible Pharmacists,” the regulator said.
“The standards will take account of the interplay between the two roles, including their responsibilities and accountabilities from both an organisational and a professional standpoint.”
Lynsey Cleland, chief standards officer at the GPhC, commented: “We will shortly be launching a public consultation on the draft standards for Superintendent Pharmacists and Responsible Pharmacists, and rules for Responsible Pharmacists, to give everyone the opportunity to give their views and help shape the final versions.
“We will then publish the new standards and rules before the key provisions relating to the supervision of the preparation, assembly, dispensing and sale and supply of medicines come into effect on 10 December 2026, to help everyone involved understand their responsibilities and accountabilities, and to make sure the changes are introduced safely and effectively.”
In a statement on the law changes, published on 15 December 2025, the Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) said: “To protect patients and ensure pharmacists, employed or self‑employed, are protected, the PDA calls for a mandated requirement that all pharmacy owners, small and large, must have robust procedures in place before implementing the 7 January 2026 absent‑authorisation provision.
“Without these robust procedures, no pharmacy owner should implement these changes, as doing so may compromise patient safety and expose pharmacists to unnecessary risks and liability.
“Regulators and commissioners should make sure that the presence and effectiveness of these procedures are a condition of operation and contract compliance for any contractor seeking to use the absent‑authorisation flexibilities.”
