Overview

This bill mandates a prominent warning symbol on the packaging of pharmaceuticals that affect the brain and central nervous system and could impair a consumer's ability to safely operate machinery or drive. The Secretary of State will determine which drugs require this warning and design the symbol.

Description

The Pharmaceutical Labelling (Warning of Cognitive Function Impairment) Bill aims to improve patient safety by increasing awareness of the potential cognitive side effects of certain medications.

Key Provisions:

• Definition of terms: The bill clearly defines "consumer," "psychoactive pharmaceutical," "warning symbol," and other key terms.
• Secretary of State's role: The Secretary of State will identify specific pharmaceuticals requiring the warning symbol and design the symbol itself through regulations.
• Warning symbol requirement: Packaging of specified psychoactive pharmaceuticals must display the warning symbol.
• Enforcement: The Secretary of State will set out offenses and penalties for non-compliance with the warning symbol requirement.
• Parliamentary Approval: Orders and regulations related to the selection of drugs and design of the warning symbol require parliamentary approval.
• Geographical Scope: The bill applies only to England and Wales.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify government spending figures. Costs will likely arise from the administration of the new regulations, including the identification of affected pharmaceuticals, design and implementation of the warning symbol, and enforcement of compliance.

Groups Affected

• Pharmaceutical Companies: Will need to redesign packaging and potentially incur costs associated with compliance.
• Patients: Will benefit from increased awareness of potential cognitive side effects, leading to improved safety.
• Healthcare Professionals: May need to adjust their prescribing and patient counselling practices.
• Government Agencies: Responsible for enforcing compliance and potentially incurring administrative costs.

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