Medicines and Allied Substances [No. 3 of 2013 47
THE MEDICINES AND ALLIED SUBSTANCES ACT, 2013
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
PART I PRELIMINARY
Section 1. Short title 2. Interpretation
PART II THE ZAMBIA MEDICINES REGULATORY AUTHORITY
3. Continuation and re-naming of Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authority
4. Seal of Authority 5. Functions of Authority 6. Powers of Authority 7. Constitution of Board of Authority 8. Functions of Board 9. Expert Advisory Committee 10. Committees 11. Delegation of functions of Board 12. Director-General 13. Immunity
PART III REGISTRATION AND REGULATION OF PHARMACIES, HEALTH SHOPS AND
AGRO-VETERINARY SHOPS
14. Prohibition of operation of unregistered pharmacy, health shop or agro-veterinary shop
15. Application for certificate of registration 16. Issue of certificate of registration 17. Rejection of application 18. Display of certificate of registration 19. Annual return 20. Surrender of certificate of registration 21. Transfer of certificate of registration 22. Amendment of certificate of registration 23. Suspension or cancellation of certificate of registration 24. Closure of pharmacy
48 No. 3 of 2013] Medicines and Allied Substances
25. Loss of certificate of registration 26. Management of hospital pharmacies 27. Standard of pharmacy practice 28. Dispensing certificate 29. Agro-veterinary shop permit 30. Health shop permit 31. Register of Pharmacies, Agro-veterinary Shops and
Health Shops 32. Publication of registered pharmacies, agro-veterinary
shops and health shop PART IV
LICENCIES, IMPORT AND EXPORT PERMIT
33. Prohibition of manufacture, distribution, etc. medicine or allied substance without pharmaceutical licence
34. Pharmaceutical licence 35. Import permit 36. Export permit 37. Additional requirements for import or export for narcotic
drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors 38. Register of Licences and Permits
PART V REGISTRATION OF MEDICINES AND ALLIED SUBSTANCES
39. Marketing authorisation 40. Categories of medicine 41. Medicines list 42. Prohibition of sale of prescription only medicines without
prescription 43. Labelling of medicine 44. Sale of medicine, etc. 45. Advertising of medicines 46. Recall of medicine, etc. from circulation 47. Monitoring medicine and allied substance 48. Register of Marketing Authorisations
PART VI REGULATION OF CLINICAL TRIALS
49. Prohibition of conducting clinical trial without certificate 50. Application for clinical trial certificate
Single copies of this Act may be obtained from the Government Printer, P.O. Box 30136, 10101 Lusaka, Price K 23.00 each.
Medicines and Allied Substances [No. 3 of 2013 49
51. Grant of certificate 52. Inspection of clinical trial sites 53. Register of Clinical Trial Certificate
PART VII THE NATIONAL DRUG QUALITY CONTROL LABORATORY
54. National Drug Quality Control Laboratory
PART VIII INSPECTIONS
55. Inspectors
PART IX GENERAL PROVISIONS
56. Appeals 57. Authority to manufacture patented medicine 58. General offences 59. Prohibition of manufacture, import, export, etc of sub-
standard, counterfeit or adulterated medicine or allied substances
60. Prohibition of supply of expired medicine 61. Prohibition of deceptive act 62. Prohibition of sale, etc of harmful cosmetics 63. Sale and preparation of cosmetics under insanitary
conditions 64. Standards of cosmetics 65. Prohibition of sale of harmful devices 66. General penalty 67. Offence by body corporate or unincorporate body 68. Guidelines 69. Regulations 70. Repeal of Act No. 14 of 2004
FIRST SCHEDULE SECOND SCHEDULE
Medicines and Allied Substances [No. 3 of 2013 51
GOVERNMENT OF ZAMBIA
ACT No. 3 of 2013
Date of Assent:21st March, 2013
An Act to continue the existence of the Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authority and re-name it as the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority; provide for the functions and powers of the Authority; provide for the registration and regulation of pharmacies, health shops and agro- veterinary shops; provide for the registration and regulation of medicines and allied substances; provide for the regulation of the manufacture, importation, exportation, possession, storage, distribution, supply, promotion, advertising, sale and use of medicines and allied substances; provide for the regulation and control of clinical trials; repeal and replace the Pharmaceutical Act, 2004; and provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.
[22nd March, 2013 ENACTED by the Parliament of Zambia.
PART I PRELIMINARY
1. This Act may be cited as the Medicines and Allied Substances Act, 2013.
2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires— “ administer ” means to give a substance to a human being or
animal orally, by injection or by introduction into the body in any other way or by external application, whether by direct contact with the body or not;
“ adulterated medicine ” means any medicine— (a) consisting in whole or in part of any filthy, putrid,
decomposed, deleterious or foreign substance; (b) that is prepared or stored under unsanitary conditions; (c) whose container is composed of any poisons or
deleterious substance; (d) that contains a colouring agent that is not prescribed;
or (e) that contains any harmful or toxic substance;
“ agro-veterinary shop ” means a place or premises permitted to sell prescribed veterinary medicinal products and allied substances under the control of a relevant veterinary professional as determined by the Authority;
Enactment
Short title
Interpretation
52 No. 3 of 2013] Medicines and Allied Substances
Act No. 27 of 2010
Act No. 45 of 2010
“ allied substances ” include acaricides, cosmetics, disinfectants, food supplements, feed additives and supplements, medical and surgical sundries, medical devices and condoms;
“ animal ” has the meaning assigned to it in theAnimal Health Act, 2010;
“ animal health facility ” has the meaning assigned to it in the Veterinary and Veterinary Para-Professions Act, 2010;
“ assemble ” in relation to a medicine, means enclosing the medicine or allied substance of the same description in a container before the medicine or allied substance is sold or supplied;
“ Authority ” means the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority provided for under section three;
“ biological product ” includes vaccine, immune sera, anti- toxin, anti-venom, toxoid, blood and blood components, allergy products used in the prevention, treatment or cure of disease or condition in human beings and animals synthesised from living organisms or other product;
“ Board ” means the Board of the Authority constituted under section seven;
“ certificate of registration ” means the certificate of registration of a pharmacy;
“ Chairperson ” means the person appointed as Chairperson of the Board under section seven;
“ clinical trial ” means the systematic study involving human participants or animal subjects that serves to answer the efficacy of a medicine, biological products or method of prevention or treatment;
“ committee ” means a committee of the Board established under section ten;
“ cosmetic ” means any substance manufactured or sold for use in cleansing, beautifying or altering the hair, eyes, teeth or nails, or complexion of the skin, and includes deodorants and perfumes;
“ counterfeit medicine or allied substance ” means a medicine or allied substance which is deliberately or fraudulently mislabeled or misrepresented with respect to identity or source, or a medicine or allied substance which—
(a) has wrong ingredients; (b) contains active ingredients or not; (c) has insufficient or excess active ingredients; or (d) has fake packaging;
Medicines and Allied Substances [No. 3 of 2013 53
“ deal ” means to sell or offer for sale or trade by wholesale; “ dental surgeon ” means a person registered as such under
the Health Professions Act, 2009; “ Director-General ” means the person appointed as Director-
General under section twelve; “ dispense ” means to count, measure or decant a medicine
from a bulk supply or to prepare, mix, dissolve or supply a medicine for the treatment of a person or animal, but does not include the administration of medicine;
“distribute ” means the division and movement of pharmaceutical products from the premises of the manufacturer of the products or from another central point or to an intermediate point or to the end user by means of any method of transport;
“ Expert Advisory Committee ” means the Expert Advisory Committee established under section nine;
“ former Authority ” means the Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authority established under the repealed Act;
“ health facility ” has the meaning assigned to it in the Health Professions Act, 2009;
“ health shop ” means a place or premises permitted to sell a prescribed list of medicine by the Authority, under the control of an authorised person as determined by the Authority;
“hospital” has the meaning assigned to it in the Health Professions Act, 2009;
“ hospital pharmacy” means a pharmacy which is part of a health facility;
“ ingredient ” in relation to the manufacture or preparation of a substance, includes anything which is the sole active or inactive ingredient of that substance;
“ inspector” means a person appointed as an inspector under section fifty-five;
“ label ” means to affix to, or otherwise display on, a container or package, a notice describing the ingredients and contents thereof;
“ Laboratory ” means the National Drug Quality Control Laboratory established under section fifty-four;
“ manufacture ” in relation to a medicine or allied substance, includes any process carried out in the course of making that medicine or allied substance, but does not include the process of—
Act No. 24 of 2009
Act No. 14 of 2004 Act No. 24 of 2009
Act No. 24 of 2009
54 No. 3 of 2013] Medicines and Allied Substances
Act No. 24 of 2009
Act No. 31 of 1997 Act No. 31 of
(a) dissolving or dispensing a product in, or diluting or mixing it with, some other substance for purposes of administering it; or
(b) the incorporation of a medicine in any animal feed; “ marketing authorisation ” means the authorisation granted,
under section thirty-nine, for the placement of a medicine or allied substance on the market;
“ medical device ” includes an instrument, apparatus, component, part or accessory manufactured or sold for use in the diagnosis, treatment, mitigation or prevention of a disease, disorder or abnormal physical state or the symptoms of the disease, or abnormal physical state in human beings or animals;
“ medical doctor ” means a person registered as a medical doctor under the Health Professions Act, 2009;
“ medicine ” means human medicine, veterinary medicine, medicinal product, herbal medicine or any substance or mixture of substances for human or veterinary use intended to be used or manufactured for use for its therapeutic efficacy or for its pharmacological purpose in the diagnosis, treatment, alleviation, modification or prevention of disease or abnormal physical or mental state or the symptoms of disease in a person or animal;
“ medicinal product ” means any substance or combination of substances which may be administered to human beings or animals in order to make a medical diagnosis or to restore, correct or modify the physiological functions in human beings or animals;
“ member ” means a person appointed as a member of the Board under section seven;
“ midwife ” means a person registered as a midwife under the Nurses and Midwives Act, 1997;
“ nurse ” means a person registered as a nurse under the Nurses and Midwives Act, 1997;
“ package ” means anything in or by which any medicine, herbal medicine, therapeutic substance or allied substance is enclosed, covered or contained, and includes primary and secondary packaging;
“ pharmaceutical licence ” means the licence issued, under section thirty-four, to a person to manufacture, distribute or deal in a medicine or allied substance;
“ pharmacist” means a person registered as a pharmacist
1997
Medicines and Allied Substances [No. 3 of 2013 55
under the Health Professions Act, 2009; “ pharmacy ” means a drugstore, druggist, chemist or any
business or premises registered as such under section sixteen;
“ prescription ” means a written direction given by an authorised prescriber directing that a stated amount of a medicine specified in the direction be dispensed for the person or animal named in the direction;
“ prescription only medicine ” means a medicine dispensed only on prescription;
“ Register ” means, in relation to— (a) pharmacies, health shops and agro-veterinary shops,
the Register provided for under section thirty-one; (b)licences and permits, the Register of Licences and
Permits provided for under section thirty-eight; (c) marketing authorisation, the Register of Marketing
Authorisations provided for under section forty- eight; and
(d) clinical trial certificates, the Register of Clinical Trial Certificates provided for under section fifty-three;
“ repealed Act ” means the Pharmaceutical Act, 2004; “ sell ” means to offer for sale, expose for sale, have in
possession for sale, and supply, whether the supply is made for consideration or not;
“ substance ” means any natural or artificial material, whether in the form of solid, liquid, gas, vapour or any active or inactive substance or pharmaceutical ingredient;
“ sub-standard medicine ” means a product whose composition and ingredients do not meet the approved quality specifications and which may be consequently ineffective and often dangerous to the patient;
“ veterinary surgeon ” means a person registered as a veterinary surgeon under the Veterinary and Veterinary Para-Professions Act, 2010; and
“ Vice-Chairperson ” means the person elected as Vice- Chairperson under section seven.
PART II THE ZAMBIA MEDICINES REGULATORY AUTHORITY
3. (1) The Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authority established under the repealedAct shall continue to exist as if established under
Act No. 24 of 2009
Act No. 14 of 2004
Act No. 45 of 2010
10 No. of 2013] Medicines and Allied Substances
Continuation and re-naming of Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authority Act No. 14 of 2004
Seal of Authority
Functions of Authority
this Act and is hereby renamed the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority.
(2) The Authority shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal, capable of suing and of being sued in its corporate name, and with power, subject to the provisions of this Act, to do all such acts and things as a body corporate may, by law, do or perform.
(3) The provisions of the First Schedule apply to the Authority.
4. (1) The seal of the Authority shall be such device as may be determined by the Authority and shall be kept by the Director- General.
(2) The affixing of the seal shall be authenticated by the Chairperson or the Vice Chairperson and the Director-General or any other person authorised in that behalf by a resolution of the Board.
(3) Any contract or instrument which if entered into or executed by a person not being a body corporate, would not be required to be under seal, may be entered into or executed without seal on behalf of the Authority by the Director-General or any other person generally or specifically authorised by the Board in that behalf.
(4) Any document purporting to be a document under the seal of theAuthority or issued on behalf of theAuthority shall be received in evidence and shall be deemed to be so executed or issued, as the case may be, without further proof, unless the contrary is proved.
5. The functions of the Authority are to— (a) grant pharmaceutical licences and marketing
authorisations; (b) inspect any premises used for the purpose of
manufacturing, distribution, sale, importation or exportation of medicines or allied substances or for any other purposes regulated under this Act;
(c) regulate and control the manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution and sale of medicines and allied substances;
(d) regulate and control the advertising and promotion of medicines and allied substances;
(e) register and regulate pharmacies, health shops and agro- veterinary shops;
(f) in consultation with the relevant professional bodies, establish, maintain and develop standards for the operation of pharmacies, health shops and agro-
Medicines and Allied Substances [No. of 2013 11
veterinary shops; (g) serve and protect the public interest in all matters relating
to the sale of medicines and allied substances; (h) regulate and monitor the conduct of clinical trials; (i) establish, maintain and enforce standards relating to the
manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution and sale of medicines and allied substances;
(j) conduct post-marketing surveillance; (k) establish, maintain and enforce standards for drug quality
control laboratories; (l) advise the Minister on policies relating to the regulation
and control of medicines and allied substances; (m) collaborate with corresponding medicines regulatory
authorities in other countries; (n) in consultation with relevant research institutions,
determine national priorities in pharmaceutical research; and
(o) do all such things as are connected with, or incidental to, the functions of the Authority under this Act.
6. The Authority may— (a) direct any pharmacy, health shop or agro-veterinary shop
or any person providing services relating to the manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution and sale of medicines and allied substances to deliver the services in such manner as to ensure compliance with this Act;
(b) require any pharmacy, health shop or agro-veterinary shop, manufacturer, wholesale dealer, distributor, importer, exporter or person to submit such information and records as may be necessary to enable the Authority to monitor the performance of the pharmacy, health shop, agro- veterinary shop, manufacturer, wholesale dealer, distributor, importer or exporter;
(c) consider any matter relating to the manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution and sale of medicines and allied substances and make representations thereon to the Minister;
(d) declare certain substances as medicine; and (e) determine the method of sale of medicines.
7. (1) There is hereby constituted a Board of the Authority which shall consist of the following part-time members appointed by the Minister:
Powers of Authority
12 No. of 2013] Medicines and Allied Substances
Constitution of Board of Authority
(a) a representative of the Pharmaceutical Society of Zambia; (b) a representative of the Medical Association of Zambia; (c) a representative of the Health Professions Council of
Zambia; (d) a representative of the department of pharmacy of a higher
education institution; (e) a representative of the School of Veterinary Medicine of
a higher education institution; (f) a representative of the pharmaceutical industry; (g) a representative of the Ministry responsible for health; (h) a representative of the Ministry responsible for commerce; (i) a representative of the Ministry responsible for veterinary
services; (j) a representative of the Ministry responsible for community
development; (k) a representative of the Veterinary Association of Zambia; (l) a representative of the Attorney-General; and (m) two other persons.
(2) The members referred to in subsection (1) shall be recommended by their respective institutions.
(3) The Minister shall appoint the Chairperson of the Board from amongst the members.
(4) The members shall elect the Vice-Chairperson of the Board from amongst themselves.
(5) A person shall not be nominated or appointed as a member of the Board if the person—
(a) is an undischarged bankrupt; (b) has been convicted of an offence involving fraud or
dishonesty; (c) has been convicted of an offence under any written law
and sentenced to imprisonment for a period exceeding six months without the option of a fine;
(d) has been found guilty of professional misconduct; or (e) is an employee of the Authority.
8. The Board shall, subject to the provisions of thisAct, perform the following functions:
Medicines and Allied Substances [No. of 2013 13
(a) review the policy and strategic plan of the Authority; (b) oversee the implementation and successful operation of
the policy and functions of the Authority; (c) approve the annual budget and plans of the Authority; (d) monitor and evaluate the performance of the Authority
against budgets and plans; (e) establish and issue guidelines and standards for purposes
of this Act; (f)establish and approve rules and procedures for the
appointment,discipline, termination and terms and conditions of service of the staff of the Authority;
(g) make recommendations to the Minister for amendments to this Act or the issuance of regulations under this Act; and
(h) perform any other function conferred or imposed on the Board by, or under, this Act.
9. (1) The Board shall constitute an ExpertAdvisory Committee which shall consist of experts in human medicine, veterinary medicine and allied substances.
(2) The ExpertAdvisory Committee constituted under subsection (1) shall—
(a) advise the Board on— (i) licensing of medicines and allied substances; (ii) monitoring the advertisements on medicines and
allied substances; (iii) monitoring the standards relating to medicines and
allied substances; and (iv) monitoring the conduct of clinical trials;
(b) provide technical and scientific advice on any aspect of medicines and allied substances;
(c) review risk assessment and risk management measures relating to medicines and allied substances;
(d) recommend containment measures, reporting mechanisms, remedial measures monitoring procedures and other appropriate conditions for medicines or allied substances;
(e) make policy recommendations to the Board; and (f) perform any other function conferred on the Expert
Advisory Committee by the Board for purposes of this Act.
Functions of Board
Expert Advisory Committee
14 No. of 2013] Medicines and Allied Substances
Committees
Delegation of functions of Board
Director- General
(3) Subject to any specific or general directive of the Board, the Expert Advisory Committee may regulate its own procedure.
(4) The members of the Expert Advisory Committee shall elect a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson from among themselves.
(5) The Minister may, by statutory instrument, make regulations to provide for the composition, tenure and procedure of the Expert Advisory Committee.
10. (1) The Board may, for the purpose of performing its functions under this Act, constitute such committees as it considers necessary and may delegate to the committee such of its functions as it considers fit.
(2) The Board may appoint as members of a committee, persons who are, or are not, members of the Board, except that at least one member of a committee shall be a member of the Board.
(3) A person serving as a member of a committee shall hold office for such period as the Board may determine.
(4) Subject to any specific or general direction of the Board, a committee may regulate its own procedure.
11. Subject to this Act, the Board may, by direction, in writing, and subject to any terms and conditions as it considers necessary, delegate to the Director-General any of its functions under this Act.
12. (1) The Board shall, with the approval of the Minister, appoint a Director-General on such terms and conditions as it may determine.
(2) The Director-General shall be the chief executive officer of the Authority and shall, subject to the control of the Board, be responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Authority.
(3) A person shall not be appointed as Director-General unless the person is a pharmacist.
(4) The Director-General may attend meetings of the Board and of any committee and may address such meetings, but shall have no vote.
(5) The Board shall appoint a Board Secretary on such terms and conditions as it may determine.
(6) The Board may, whenever the Director-General is for any reason unable to discharge the functions of the Director-General’s
Medicines and Allied Substances [No. of 2013 15
office, appoint an acting Director-General to discharge the Director- General’s functions.
(7) The Board may appoint on such terms and conditions as it may determine, such other staff of the Authority as it considers necessary for the performance of its functions under this Act.
13. An action or other proceeding shall not lie or be instituted against the Director-General or a member of staff of the Authority for, or in respect of, any act or thing done in good faith in the exercise of, or performance of or purported exercise of, or performance of, any of the powers, functions or duties conferred under this Act.
PART III REGISTRATION AND REGULATION OF PHARMACIES, HEALTH SHOPS AND
AGRO-VETERINARY SHOPS
14. (1) A person shall not— (a) operate, either on that person’s own behalf or on behalf of
another person, a pharmacy that is not registered under this Act or a health shop or agro-veterinary shop without a permit issued by the Authority; or
(b) assume, take, exhibit or in any way make use of any title, emblem, description or addition reasonably calculated to suggest that a pharmacy is registered, or the health shop or agro-veterinary shop has a permit.
(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding three million penalty units or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years, or to both.
15. (1) A person who intends to operate a pharmacy shall apply to the Authority for a certificate of registration in the prescribed manner and form upon payment of the prescribed fee.
(2) A separate application shall be made in respect of each premises to be operated as a pharmacy.
(3)The Authority may— (a) request an applicant to furnish any other information in
relation to an application, within such period as it may determine; and
(b) inspect the premises in respect of which an application is made before the issuance of the certificate of registration.
Immunity
Prohibition of operation of unregistered pharmacy, health shop or agro- veterinary shop
Application for certificate of registration
16 No. of 2013] Medicines and Allied Substances
Issue of certificate of registration
Rejection of application
Display of certificate of registration
16. (1) The Authority shall, within sixty days of receipt of an application made under section fifteen, issue the applicant with a certificate of registration if—
(a) the application meets the requirements of this Act; (b) the premises to be used are suitable for conducting
pharmacy business; (c) the pharmacy is under the management and control of a
registered pharmacist at all times; and (d) the activity or business to be carried out does not contravene
any other written law. (2) Where a person applies for a certificate of registration under
section fifteen and the certificate is not granted within sixty days of the filing of the application, the certificate shall be deemed to have been granted.
(3) Subject to the other provisions of this Act, a certificate of registration issued under this section shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Authority may determine.
17. (1) The Authority shall reject an application for a certificate of registration if—
(a) the activity or business to be carried out contravenes any law in force;
(b) the premises in respect of which the application is made are not suitable for pharmacy business and do not comply with prescribed standards of pharmacy practice;
(c) the certificate of registration previously held by the applicant was cancelled by the Authority; or
(d) the applicant submits false information in relation to the application.
(2) The Authority shall, where it rejects an application under subsection (1), inform the applicant, in writing, and give the reasons for the rejection.
18. A holder of a certificate of registration shall display the certificate in a conspicuous manner and place at the place of business.
19. (1) A holder of a certificate of registration shall submit to the Authority an annual return or no-change return in the prescribed manner and form upon payment of the prescribed fee.
Medicines and Allied Substances [No. of 2013 17
(2) A holder of a certificate of registration shall, where the status of a pharmacy required to file a return under this section has not changed, file a no-change return indicating the financial year in which the return is filed and containing a general statement that there has been no change in any given particulars in the return from the filling of the previous return.
(3) Notwithstanding the filing of a no-change return, the Director-General may cause to be inspected any records of the person which the Director-General considers necessary for the better carrying out of this Act.
(4) A person who fails to submit an annual return or a no- change return on, or before, the prescribed date is liable to pay the Authority a fine of ten thousand penalty units and a further fine of two thousand eight hundred penalty units for each day during which the default continues.
20. (1) Where the holder of a certificate of registration decides not to continue with the business to which the certificate relates, the holder shall notify theAuthority, in writing, and shall agree with the Authority on the terms and conditions of the surrender of the certificate.
(2) Where a certificate of registration is surrendered under subsection (1), the certificate shall lapse and subject to section twenty-three, be cancelled.
21. (1) A certificate of registration shall not be transferred to a third party without the prior approval of the Authority.
(2) An application for approval to transfer a certificate of registration shall be made to theAuthority in the prescribed manner and form.
(3) The Authority may, within fourteen days of receipt of an application to transfer a certificate of registration, determine the application in accordance with this Act.
22. (1) A holder of a certificate of registration shall, where a change is made or occurs in any of the following registered particulars:
(a) the business name; (b) the physical address of the pharmacy; (c) the structure of the place of business; or
Annual return
Surrender of certificate of registration
Transfer of certificate of registration
Amendment of certificate of registration
18 No. of 2013] Medicines and Allied Substances
Suspension or cancellation of certificate of registration
(d) the name of the pharmacist designated as the manager of the pharmacy;
notify the Authority, in the prescribed manner and form, within fourteen days of the change.
(2) The Authority shall, upon receipt of the notice referred to in subsection (1), amend the certificate of registration accordingly.
(3) The Authority shall, where it identifies an error on the Register relating to any particulars of a certificate of registration, inform the holder of the certificate and amend the certificate accordingly.
(4) A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding two thousand eight hundred penalty units for each day during which the default continues.
23. (1) Subject to the other provisions of this Act, the Authority may suspend or cancel a certificate of registration if—
(a) the holder obtained the certificate by fraud or deliberate or negligent submission of false information or statements;
(b) the holder operates the pharmacy under unsanitary conditions;
(c) the pharmacist or responsible person obtains medicines and allied substances from unauthorised suppliers or deals in unauthorised products;
(d) the pharmacy in respect of which it was issued is not compliant with prescribed standards of pharmacy practice or is not managed or controlled by a registered pharmacist or authorised person determined by the Authority;
(e) the pharmacist fails to maintain the required records on medicines and allied substances;
(f) the holder fails to submit an annual return in accordance with this Act; or
(g) the holder contravenes the terms and conditions of the certificate of registration, this Act or any other relevant law.
(2) The Authority shall, before suspending or cancelling a certificate of registration in accordance with subsection (1), give written notice to the holder thereof of its intention to suspend or
Medicines and Allied Substances [No. of 2013 19
cancel the certificate and shall give the reasons for the intended suspension or cancellation and require the holder to show cause, within a period of not more than thirty days, why the certificate should not be suspended or cancelled.
(3) The Authority shall not suspend or cancel a certificate of registration under this section if the holder takes remedial measures to the satisfaction of the Authority within the period referred to in subsection (2).
(4) Where a holder who is notified under subsection (2) fails to show cause to the satisfaction of the Authority, or does not take any remedial measures to the satisfaction of the Authority within the time specified in that subsection, the Authority shall suspend or cancel the certificate of registration.
(5) Where a certificate of registration is cancelled, the holder of the certificate shall return it to theAuthority and the Authority shall cancel the name and the particulars relating to the pharmacy from the Register.
(6) Subject to subsection (7), a person whose certificate of registration is cancelled may re-apply for registration in the prescribed manner and form, if that person takes remedial measures to the satisfaction of the Authority.
(7) An application for re-registration may be made after one year from the date of the cancellation of the registraton.
24. (1) The Authority may order the closure of a pharmacy where—
(a) the pharmacy contravenes the terms and conditions of registration in a manner that presents danger or imminent harm to members of the public;
(b) the pharmacy is not registered under this Act; or (c) the pharmacy contravenes the provisions of this Act or
any other relevant law. (2) The Authority shall, where it receives an inspection report
indicating that a pharmacy is not compliant with the requirements of this Act or its certificate of registration, or is offering services in
Closure of pharmacy
20 No. of 2013] Medicines and Allied Substances
Loss of certificate of registration
Management of hospital pharmacies
Act No. 24 of
Standards of pharmacy practice
excess of those permitted to the pharmacy, give the pharmacy written notice of the violation.
(3) A pharmacy shall, where it receives a notice under subsection (2), within fourteen days of service of the notice, provide the Director-General with a written plan of correction of the violation, indicating a schedule of dates by which corrective action shall be taken.
(4) A pharmacy shall, where the plan of correction submitted by the pharmacy under subsection (3) is accepted by the Director- General, meet the schedule contained in the plan.
(5) The Authority shall, where the plan of correction submitted by a pharmacy is rejected by the Director-General, revoke the certificate of registration and order the closure of the pharmacy.
25. (1) A holder of a certificate of registration who loses the certificate may apply to the Authority for a duplicate certificate of registration in the prescribed manner and form upon payment of the prescribed fee.
(2) The Authority shall, within fourteen days of the receipt of an application under subsection (1), issue a duplicate certificate of registration if the applicant meets the requirements of this Act.
26. (1) Subject to subsection (2), a hospital pharmacy shall be managed by a pharmacist.
(2) The Minister may, on the recommendation of theAuthority, by statutory instrument, provide for circumstances under which a hospital pharmacy may be operated by a pharmacy technologist or such other person as the Authority may determine, under the supervision of a pharmacist.
(3) In this section, “ pharmacy technologist ” means a person registered as a pharmacy technologist under the Health Professions Act, 2009.
27. For the purposes of this Part, the Minister may, on the recommendation of the Authority, by statutory instrument, provide for standards for the practice of pharmacy in pharmacies and hospital pharmacies.
28. (1) The Authority may, upon application by a person, issue a dispensing certificate to the person to dispense medicines and allied substances to patients under their care in a health facility.
2009
Medicines and Allied Substances [No. of 2013 21
(2) A person who dispenses any medicine or allied substance without a dispensing certificate to a patient in a health facility commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding two million penalty units or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding four years, or to both.
(3) The Minister may, on the recommendation of the Authority, by statutory instrument, provide for—
(a) the criteria and procedure for applying for a dispensing certificate and the grant, amendment, renewal, transfer and revocation of a dispensing certificate;
(b) the terms and conditions attaching to an application, grant, amendment, refusal, renewal, transfer or revocation of a dispensing certificate;
(c) the exemption of certain categories of persons from any provision of this section; and
(d) any other matters that are necessary or incidental to the effective regulation of dispensing certificates under this Act.
29. (1) The Authority may, upon application by a person, issue an agro-veterinary shop permit to the person to sell a prescribed list of veterinary medicinal products, under the control and management of such persons as the Authority may authorise.
(2) The Minister may, on the recommendation of the Authority, by statutory instrument, provide for—
(a) the criteria and procedure for applying for an agro- veterinary shop permit and the grant, amendment, renewal, transfer and revocation of an agro-veterinary shop permit;
(b) the terms and conditions attaching to an application, grant, amendment, refusal, renewal, transfer or revocation of an agro-veterinary shop permit; and
(c) any other matters that are necessary or incidental to the effective regulation of agro-veterinary shop permits under this Act.
30. (1) The Authority may, upon application by a person, issue a health shop permit to the person to handle a prescribed list of medicines and allied substances in designated areas under the
Dispensing certificate
Agro- veterinary shop permit
22 No. of 2013] Medicines and Allied Substances
Health shop permit
Register of Pharmacies, Agro- Veterinary Shops and Health Shops
Publication of registered pharmacies, agro- veterinary shops and health shops
control and management of such persons as the Authority may authorise.
(2) The Minister may, on the recommendation of theAuthority, by statutory instrument, provide for—
(a) the criteria and procedure for applying for a health shop permit and the grant, amendment, renewal, transfer and revocation of a health shop permit;
(b) the terms and conditions attaching to an application, grant, amendment, refusal, renewal, transfer or revocation of a health shop permit; and
(c) any other matters that are necessary or incidental to the effective regulation of health shop permits under this Act.
31. (1) The Authority shall keep and maintain a Register of the pharmacies, agro-veterinary shops and health shops registered under this Act in which shall be entered the names and other details relating to the pharmacies, agro-veterinary shops and health shops.
(2) The Register referred to in subsection (1) shall be kept at the offices of the Authority and shall be open to inspection by the public at such times and on such conditions, including the payment of a fee for inspection, as the Board may determine.
(3) A person may, upon payment of the prescribed fee, require a copy of the certificate of registration, dispensing certificate or permit of any person or a copy or extract of any other particulars from the Register to be certified by the Director-General.
(4) Any document purporting to be an extract or copy of any entry in the Register and duly certified to be a true copy or extract under the hand of the Director-General shall be received in evidence as to the matters stated therein in any legal proceedings.
32. The Authority shall publish, annually, the names of all the pharmacies, agro-veterinary shops and health shops registered under thisAct in a daily newspaper of general circulation in Zambia.
PART IV LICENCES, IMPORT AND EXPORT PERMITS
Medicines and Allied Substances [No. of 2013 23
33. (1) A person shall not manufacture, distribute or deal in any medicine or allied substance without a pharmaceutical licence.
(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding two million penalty units or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding four years, or to both.
34. (1) A person who intends to manufacture, distribute or deal in any medicine or allied substance shall apply to the Authority for a pharmaceutical licence in the prescribed manner and form upon payment of the prescribed fee.
(2) The Authority shall, within ninety days of the receipt of an application under subsection (1), issue a pharmaceutical licence to the applicant if the applicant meets the requirements of this Act.
(3) The Authority shall reject an application which does not meet the requirements of this Act and inform the applicant of the reasons for the rejection.
(4) The Minister may, on the recommendation of theAuthority, by statutory instrument, provide for—
(a) the criteria for the licensing of persons under subsection (1);
(b) the procedure for applying for a pharmaceutical licence and the grant, amendment, renewal, transfer and revocation of a pharmaceutical licence;
(c) the terms and conditions attaching to an application, grant, amendment, refusal, renewal, transfer or revocation of a pharmaceutical licence; and
(d) such other matters as are necessary or incidental to the effective regulation of licences under this Part.
(5) The Minister may, on the recommendation of the Authority, and for the purposes of facilitating the effective implementation and enforcement of this Act—
(a) exempt certain categories of persons from the application of some or all of the provisions of this section; and
(b) provide that some or all of the provisions of this section shall not apply in certain circumstances.
35. (1) A person shall not import any medicine or allied substance without an import permit.
(2) This section does not apply to any medicine or allied substance imported by a traveller entering Zambia for the traveller’s use as
Prohibition of manufacture, distribution, etc. of medicine or allied substance without pharmaceutical licence Pharmaceutical licence
Import permit
24 No. of 2013] Medicines and Allied Substances
Export permit
may be prescribed.
(3) A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding one million penalty units or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years, or to both.
(4) The Minister may, on the recommendation of the Authority, by statutory instrument, provide for—
(a) the criteria for the regulation of persons under subsection (1);
(b) the procedure for applying for an import permit and the grant, amendment, renewal, transfer, suspension and revocation of an import permit;
(c) the terms and conditions attaching to an application, grant, amendment,refusal, renewal, transfer, suspension or revocation of an import permit; and
(d) such other matters as are necessary or incidental to the effective regulation of import permits under this Part.
36. (1) A person shall not export any medicine or allied substance without an export permit.
(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding one million penalty units or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years, or to both.
(3) The Minister may, on the recommendation of the Authority, by statutory instrument, provide for—
(a) the criteria for the regulation of persons under subsection (1);
(b) the procedure for applying for an export permit and the grant, amendment, renewal, transfer, suspension and revocation of an export permit;
(c) the terms and conditions attaching to an application, grant, amendment, refusal, renewal, transfer, suspension or revocation of an export permit; and
(d) such other matters as are necessary or incidental to the effective regulation of export permits under this Part.
37. Where a person intends to import or export a narcotic drug, psychotropic substance or precursor for medical or scientific use,
Medicines and Allied Substances [No. of 2013 25
the person shall— (a) in addition to obtaining an import or export permit, obtain
additional authorisation from the Authority; and
(b) comply with additional requirements as may be provided for under the Dangerous Drugs Act and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and any other written law.
38. The Authority shall maintain a Register of Licences and Permits, in the prescribed form, which shall contain such particulars as the Authority may consider necessary for purposes of this Act.
PART V REGULATION OF MEDICINES AND ALLIED SUBSTANCES
39. (1) A person shall not place on the market, advertise, market, manufacture, sell, import, supply, administer or deal in any manner with any medicine or allied substance without a marketing authorisation issued by the Authority.
(2) A person who intends to place on the market, advertise, market, manufacture, sell, import, supply, administer or deal in any manner with any medicine or allied substance shall apply to the Authority for a marketing authorisation in the prescribed manner and form.
(3) A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding two million penalty units or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding four years, or to both.
(4) This section does not apply to— (a) donated medicines; (b) a person importing medicine for that person’s use or for
the use of that person’s relative, if the quantity of the imported medicine is based on the prescription;
(c) a physician, dentist or veterinary surgeon importing medicine on the physician’s, dentist’s or veterinary surgeon’s order for administration to a person or animal, if the quantity of the imported medicine is based on a prescription;
(d) medicine manufactured under the supervision of a pharmacist or by a pharmacist—
(i) for sale in the pharmacist’s own pharmacy; or (ii) in a hospital for its use;
Additional requirements for import or export of narcoticdrugs, psychotropic substances and precursors
Cap. 95 Cap. 96
Register of Licences and Permits
Marketing authorisation
26 No. of 2013] Medicines and Allied Substances
Categories of medicines
Medicines list
Prohibition of sale of prescription only medicines without prescription
(e)medicine imported or exported in response to a declared health emergency;
(f)medicine imported by an authorised institution for administration to patients under its care; and
(g) any medicine or allied substance used for purposes of a clinical trial.
(5) The Minister may, on the recommendation of the Authority, by statutory instrument, provide for—
(a) the criteria for the regulation of persons under subsection (1);
(b) the procedure for applying for a marketing authorisation and the grant, amendment, renewal, transfer and revocation of a marketing authorisation;
(c) the terms and conditions attaching to an application, grant, amendment, refusal, renewal, transfer or revocation of a marketing authorisation; and
(d) such other matters as are necessary or incidental to the effective regulation of marketing authorisations under this Part.
(7) A holder of a marketing authorisation shall pay such annual retention fee as the Minister may prescribe.
40. (1) The categories of medicines to which this Part applies are—
(a) prescription only medicine; (b) pharmacy medicine; and (c) general sale medicine.
(2) Medicines shall be dispensed in accordance with the respective requirements applicable to the categories specified in subsection (1) and as shall be prescribed by statutory instrument.
41. The Minister may, on the recommendation of theAuthority, by statutory instrument, provide for a list of substances to be considered as medicines.
42. (1) A person shall not sell or supply medicine which is required to be sold by prescription only to any person without a prescription.
(2) For the purposes of this section, an authorised prescriber shall prescribe medicines which under this Act are required to be dispensed only under a prescription by issuing a prescription in the
Medicines and Allied Substances [No. of 2013 27
prescribed form. (3) Unless otherwise provided, all prescriptions shall specify the
medicine to be administered by reference to the generic name of that medicine.
(4) Subject to subsection (5), a prescription signed by an authorised prescriber authorising the sale or supply of a medicine shall not be dispensed on more than one occasion, except that if the prescription expressly directs that it may be dispensed on a specified number of occasions or at specified intervals in a specific period, it may be dispensed in accordance with that direction.
(5) Notwithstanding subsection (4), insulin and medicines for the treatment of asthma or other such diseases as the Minister may, on the advice of theAuthority, by statutory instrument specify, may be sold or supplied any number of times under an initial prescription of a medical doctor or veterinary surgeon.
(6) In this section, “ authorised prescriber ” means a medical doctor, a dental surgeon, a veterinary surgeon or such other person as the Minister may, on the advice of the Authority, by statutory instrument, designate.
(7) Where a generic medicine is prescribed under subsection (3), a pharmacist or any person acting under the supervision of the pharmacist, or a veterinary surgeon to whom the prescription is presented, shall dispense the generic medicine specified in that prescription, unless such generic medicine is not available.
(8)A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding two million penalty units.
(9) The Minister may, for the purpose of preventing the improper use of prescription only medicines, on the recommendation of the Authority, by statutory instrument—
(a) provide for the control of the importation, exportation, sale, possession, distribution, use and labelling of prescription only medicines;
(b) exclude any prescription only medicine or preparation of such medicine from the operation of this Part;
(c) prohibit, regulate or restrict the manufacture of prescription only medicine; and
(d) regulate the use by any medical doctor, dental surgeon or veterinary surgeon of preparations containing a prescription only medicine and the dispensing of the preparations.
43. Medicines shall be labelled in such manner as the Minister may, on the recommendation of the Authority, provide by statutory
28 No. of 2013] Medicines and Allied Substances
Labelling of medicines
Sale of medicine
Advertising of medicines or allied substances
instrument.
44. (1) A person shall not sell by retail or otherwise supply medicine in a place other than a pharmacy, health facility or an animal health facility, except with the written approval of the Authority.
(2) Any medicine sold in a place other than a pharmacy, health facility or animal health facility shall be sold in the original package labelled by the manufacturer with—
(a) full instructions for use; (b) indications, contra indications, warnings and precautions;
and (c) any other information as the Minister may provide, by
statutory instrument, on the recommendation of the Authority.
(3) A medical doctor, dental surgeon or any other authorised prescriber shall not sell any medicine to any person unless it is in a package for an individual patient’s use only.
(4) A wholesaler, manufacturer or importer shall not sell any medicine to any person unless that person is duly authorised to handle medicines and allied substances under this Act.
45. (1) An advertisement of any medicine or allied substance shall conform to the information relating to the medicine or allied substance approved by the Authority and as specified in the marketing authorisation.
(2) A medicine or allied substance which is sold by prescription only shall not be advertised to the general public without the prior written approval of the Authority.
(3) In this section, “ advertisement ” means any representation by any means whatsoever for the purpose of promoting, directly or indirectly, the sale or disposal of any medicine or allied substance.
(4) A person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding one million penalty units or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years, or to both.
(5) Where a person has been charged with an offence under this section, it shall be a defence for that person to prove—
(a) that the person’s business is to publish or arrange for the publication of advertisements;
Medicines and Allied Substances [No. of 2013 29 (b) that the advertisement was received in the ordinary course
of business and the person charged had no reason to suspect that its publication would amount to an offence under this Act; and
(c) that the advertisement was commissioned by a third party.
46. (1) The Authority may, where it determines that it is not in the public interest that any medicine or allied substance should be made available to the public, by notice, in writing, served on any person or in the Gazette, direct that person to return the medicine or allied substance which the person has in that person’s possession to—
(a) the manufacturer of the medicine or allied substance; (b) in the case of any imported medicine or allied substance,
to the importer concerned; (c) deliver it or send it to the Authority or such other person
as the Authority may designate. (2) The Authority may, by notice, in writing, direct the
manufacturer or importer of the medicine or allied substance referred to in subsection (1) or the person referred to in paragraph (c) of subsection (1), who has in their possession any quantity of the medicine or allied substance, including the returned quantity to deal with or dispose of that quantity in such manner as theAuthority may determine.
(3) Aperson shall not sell any medicine or allied substance which is the subject of a notice under subsection (1).
(4) A person who contravenes subsection (3) commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding one million penalty units or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years, or to both.
47. The Minister may, on the recommendation of the Authority, by statutory instrument, make regulations for monitoring the safety of medicines and allied substances.
48. (1) The Authority shall keep and maintain a Register of Marketing Authorisations issued under this Act.
(2) The Register referred to in subsection (1) shall be kept at the offices of theAuthority and shall be open to inspection by the public at such times and on such conditions, including the payment of a fee for inspection as the Board may determine.
PART VI REGULATION OF CLINICAL TRIALS
Recall of medicine, etc. from circulation
Monitoring medicine and allied substance Register of Marketing Authorisations
30 No. of 2013] Medicines and Allied Substances
Prohibition of conducting clinical trial without certificate
Application for clinical trial certificate
49. (1) A person shall not conduct a clinical trial involving a medicine or allied substance without a clinical trial certificate.
(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding three million penalty units or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years, or to both.
50. (1) A person who intends to conduct a clinical trial shall apply to the Authority for a clinical trial certificate in the prescribed manner and form upon payment of the prescribed fee.
(2) The Authority shall reject an application for a clinical trial certificate if—
(a) the application does not meet the requirements of this Act;
(b) the activity to be carried out contravenes any law in force; (c) the clinical trial certificate previously held by the applicant
has been revoked by the Authority; (d) the applicant submits false information in relation to the
requirements for the application; (e) the premises to be used for the clinical trials is not suitable
for the intended purpose; or (f) there is some risk to the health or well-being of a participant
and the potential benefit of the clinical trial does not significantly outweigh that risk.
(3) The Authority shall, where it rejects an application under subsection (1), inform the applicant accordingly and give the reasons therefor.
(4) The Minister may, on the recommendation of the Authority, by statutory instrument, provide for—
(a) the criteria for the regulation of persons under subsection (1);
(b) the procedure for applying for a clinical trial certificate and the grant, amendment, renewal, transfer and revocation of a clinical trial certificate;
(c) the terms and conditions attaching to an application, grant, amendment, refusal, renewal, transfer or revocation of a clinical trial certificate; and
(d) such other matters as are necessary or incidental to the effective regulation of clinical trials under this Part.
51. (1) The Authority shall, within ninety days of receipt of an application under section fifty, issue the applicant with a clinical
Medicines and Allied Substances [No. of 2013 31
trial certificate if— (a) the application meets the requirements of this Act; (b) the clinical trial does not contravene any other written
law; (c) appropriately qualified persons are available to handle the
medicine or allied substance for purposes of the clinical trial; and
(d) the premises on which the applicant proposes to conduct the clinical trials are suitable for the intended purpose.
(2) A certificate granted under this section shall be valid for such period as shall be specified in the certificate.
52. The Authority shall inspect clinical trial sites during the course of the trial and at such intervals as it may determine.
53. (1) The Authority shall keep and maintain a Register of Clinical Trial Certificates issued under this Act in which it shall enter the names and other details relating to clinical trials.
(2) The Register referred to in subsection (1) shall be kept at the offices of the Authority and shall be open to inspection by the public at such times and on such conditions, including the payment of a fee for inspection, as the Board may determine.
PART VII THE NATIONAL DRUG QUALITY CONTROL LABORATORY
54. (1) There is hereby established the National Drug Quality Control Laboratory which shall be managed by the Authority and shall facilitate the regulation of medicines and allied substances under this Act.
(2) The Authority shall use the Laboratory to— (a) verify the safety, quality and efficacy of medicines and
allied substances which are manufactured or imported into the country by persons who are authorised or licenced under this Act;
(b) examine, analyse and conduct research on medicine and allied substances;
(c) provide laboratory services to the general public; (d) provide practical training for personnel in the analysis of
medicines and allied substances; and (e) perform such other functions relating to the analysis of
medicines and allied substances as it considers necessary.
(3) The Authority shall charge such fees for the analysis of medicines and services provided by the Laboratory as it may
Grant of clinical trial certificate
Inspection of clinical trial sites Register of Clinical Trial Certificates
National Drug Quality Control Laboratory
32 No. of 2013] Medicines and Allied Substances
Inspectors
determine.
(4) The Board shall appoint a Director for the Laboratory on such terms and conditions as it may determine, who shall be responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Laboratory.
(5) The Board shall appoint such number of pharmaceutical analysts as it may consider necessary for purposes of performing its functions under this section.
(6) A pharmaceutical analyst shall, as soon as is practicable, analyse or examine medicines or allied substances sent to the laboratory and issue a certificate of analysis in such form as may be prescribed.
(7) The Authority may use any approved laboratory to verify the quality, efficacy and safety of medicines and allied substances and the laboratory shall, upon analysis or examination of the medicines or allied substances, issue a certificate of analysis.
(8) A certificate of analysis issued under this section shall be received in evidence and shall be deemed to be so issued as the case may be, without further proof, unless the contrary is proved.
PART VIII INSPECTIONS
55. (1) The Board may appoint any suitably qualified person to be an inspector for the purposes of ensuring compliance with this Act, on such terms and conditions as it may determine.
(2) TheAuthority shall provide an inspector with an identification card, in the prescribed form, which shall be prima facie evidence of the inspector’s appointment as such.
(3) An inspector shall, in performing any function under this Act—
(a) be in possession of the identification card referred to in subsection (2); and
(b) show the identification card to any person who requests to see it or is subject to an inspection or investigation under this Act.
(4) An inspector may, for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this Act, at any reasonable time, and on the authority of a warrant, enter any premises, pharmacy, health shop, agro-veterinary shop, container, vessel, vehicle, aircraft or other conveyance that the inspector has reasonable grounds to believe is used for the commission of an offence or purposes contrary to the provisions of this Act, and—
(a) search the pharmacy, health shop, agro-veterinary shop, container, vessel, vehicle, aircraft or other conveyance,
Medicines and Allied Substances [No. of 2013 33 or the premises of a manufacturer, importer, exporter, seller or distributor of any medicine or allied substance or any person licensed or regulated under this Act, including a private dwelling, where information or documents which may be relevant to an inspection may be kept or which are being used for the commission of an offence under this Act;
(b) search any person on the premises if the inspector has reasonable grounds to believe that the person has possession of an article, document, record, medicine or allied substance that has a bearing on an investigation, except that a person shall only be searched by a person of the same sex;
(c) examine any document, record, book, article, medicine or allied substance found on the premises that has a bearing on an inspection or investigation;
(d) require information to be given about any document, record, book, article, medicine or allied substance in any premises by—
(i) the owner of the premises; (ii) the person in control of the premises; (iii) any person who has control of the document,
record, book, article, medicine or allied substance; or
(iv) any other person who may have the information; (e) seize any document, book, record, article, computer or
other electronic storage device, medicine or allied substance that has a bearing on an inspection or investigation or is used for purposes contrary to the provisions of this Act;
(f) take samples of any medicine or allied substance as may be necessary for the purposes of testing, examination or analysis;
(g) take extracts from, or make copies of, any book, record or document found on the premises that has a bearing on an inspection or investigation;
(h) use any computer system or any other electronic device on the premises, or require the assistance of any person on the premises to use that computer system or electronic device, to—
(i) search any data contained in, or available to the
34 No. of 2013] Medicines and Allied Substances
computer system or electronic device; (ii) reproduce any record from the data; or (iii) seize any output from the computer or electronic
device for examination and copying; and (i) attach and, if necessary, remove from the premises for
examination and safeguarding any document, record, book or article that has a bearing on an inspection or investigation.
(5) An inspector who removes any document, book, record or article from any premises under subsection (4) shall—
(a) issue a receipt for the document, book, record or article to the owner of, or person in control of, the premises; and
(b) return the document, book, record or article as soon as practicable after achieving the purpose for which it was removed.
(6) A person who— (a) delays, assaults, threatens or obstructs an inspector in the
performance of the inspector’s functions; (b) refuses to give an inspector such reasonable assistance
as the inspector may require for the purpose of exercising the inspector’s powers;
(c) gives an inspector false or misleading information in answer to an inquiry made by the inspector; or
(d) impersonates an inspector or presents oneself to be an inspector;
commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand penalty units or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years, or to both.
(7) An inspector shall furnish the Authority with a written report and any other information relating to an inspection, as theAuthority may require.
(8) Nothing in this section requires a person to disclose or produce information or a document, if the person would in an action in a court be entitled to refuse to disclose or produce the information or document.
Medicines and Allied Substances [No. of 2013 35 PART IX
GENERAL PROVISIONS 56. (1) A person aggrieved with a decision of the Authority
may appeal to the Minister within thirty days from the date of service of the decision.
(2) The Minister shall make a decision on the appeal lodged under subsection (1) within ninety days of receiving the appeal.
(3) A person aggrieved with the decision of the Minister under subsection (2) may appeal to the High Court within thirty days from the date of service of the decision.
57. (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of the Patents Act or any other written law, where—
(a) the Minister declares a national health emergency or state of extreme urgency;
(b) the public interest so requires; or (c) any medicine or allied sustance is required for public non-
commercial use; theAuthority may authorise the manufacture locally, or importation, of a generic formulation of a medicine or allied substance, not withstanding that a patent in respect of that medicine has been issued in Zambia.
(2) The Authority shall not grant authorisation to a person to the exclusion of the patent holder.
(3) The grant of an authorisation under subsection (1), shall be subject to review by a court.
58. (1) A person who fraudulently obtains a licence, permit, authorisation or registration under this Act or makes any false or misleading statement in connection with any medicine or allied substance commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding one million penalty units or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years, or to both.
(2) A person who— (a) deals in unregistered medicines or allied substances; (b) tampers with any sample taken for purposes of this Act; (c) obtains medicines or allied substances from unauthorised
suppliers; or (d) fails to maintain records for medicines or allied substances
registered under this Act;
Appeals
Authority to manufacture patented medicine Cap. 400
General offences
36 No. of 2013] Medicines and Allied Substances
Prohibition of manufacture, import, export, etc. of sub- standard, counterfeit or adulterated medicines or allied substances
Prohibition of supply of expired medicines
Prohibition of deceptive acts
commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding four million penalty units or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding seven years, or to both.
(3) In addition to the penalty provided in subsection (1) and (2), the court before which a person is convicted of an offence under this section may order—
(a) that any medicines or allied substances in respect of which the offence is committed be forfeited to the State and be disposed of as the court may determine;
(b) that the costs for disposal of any medicine or allied substance be borne by the offender; or
(c) the cancellation of any licence permit, certificate or authorisation issued to that person under this Act.
59 (1) A person shall not manufacture, import, export, distribute, sell, store or deal in any manner with sub-standard, counterfeit, adulterated or misbranded medicines or allied substances.
(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding two million penalty units or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding four years, or to both.
(3) In addition to the penalty provided in subsection (2), the court before which a person is convicted of an offence under this section may order that any medicines or allied substances in respect of which the offence is committed be forfeited to the State to be destroyed.
60. (1) A person shall not supply or sell an expired medicine or allied substance.
(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding one million penalty units or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years, or to both.
(3) In addition to the penalty provided for in subsection (2), the court before which a person is convicted of an offence under this section may order that the medicines or allied substances in respect of which the offence is committed be forfeited to the State to be destroyed.
61. (1) A person shall not label, package, treat, process, sell or advertise any medicine or allied substance in a manner that is false, misleading or deceptive in respect of its character, constitution, value, potency, quality, composition, merit or safety or in contravention of any provision of this Act.
Medicines and Allied Substances [No. of 2013 37
(2)Aperson who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding one million penalty units or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years, or to both.
62. (1) A person shall not sell any cosmetic that—
(a) has in or upon it any substance that is likely to cause injury to the health of the user when the cosmetic is used—
(i) according to the direction on the label of, or accompanying, such cosmetic; or
(ii) for such purposes and by such methods of use as are customary or usual; or
(b) consists in whole or in part of any filthy, rotten, decomposed or diseased substance or of any injurious foreign matter.
(2) A person shall not manufacture, import, export, sell or supply any cosmetic that does not meet the prescribed standards of quality.
(3) A person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding one million penalty units or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years, or to both.
63. A person who sells, prepares, packages or stores for sale any cosmetic under insanitary conditions commits an offence.
64. Where a standard has been prescribed for a cosmetic, any person who labels, packages, sells or advertises any article in such a manner that it is likely to be mistaken for a cosmetic of the prescribed standard commits an offence, unless the article complies with the prescribed standard.
65. (1) A person shall not sell any medical device that may cause injury to the health of the user when the medical device is used—
(a) according to the direction on the label of, or accompanying, that medical device; or
(b) for such purposes and by such methods of use as are customary or usual.
Prohibition of manufacture, sale, etc of harmful cosmetics
Sale and preparation of cosmetics under insanitary conditions Standards of cosmetics
Prohibition of sale of harmful medical devices
38 No. of 2013] Medicines and Allied Substances
General penalty
Offence by body corporate or unincorporate body
Guidelines
Regulations
(2) A person shall not manufacture, import, sell or supply any medical device that does not meet the prescribed standards of quality.
(3) A person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding two million penalty units or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding four years, or to both.
66. A person who contravenes a provision of this Act for which a specific penalty is not provided for under thisAct, commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding one million penalty units or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years, or to both.
67. Where an offence under this Act is committed by a body corporate or an unincorporate body, every director or manager of the corporate or unincorporate body is liable, upon conviction, as if the director or manager had personally committed the offence, unless the director or manager proves to the satisfaction of the court that the act constituting the offence was done without the knowledge, consent or connivance of the director or manager or that the director or manager took reasonable steps to prevent the commission of the offence.
68. (1) The Authority may make guidelines for the better carrying out of the provisions of this Act.
(2) The guidelines referred to in subsection (1) shall, upon publication in a daily newspaper of general circulation in Zambia, be binding on all persons regulated under this Act.
69. (1) The Minister may, by statutory instrument, make regulations for the better carrying out of the provisions of this Act.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), regulations under that subsection may make provision for—
(a) the prohibition, regulation or restriction of the manufacture or importation of pharmaceutical preparations and prescription only medicines;
(b) the required standards for pharmacies, agro-veterinary shops and health shops, including their operation and the maintenance, space, equipment and facilities required for pharmacies, agro-veterinary shops and health shops;
(c) the required standards for the manufacture, supply, dispensing and the distribution of medicines and allied substances;
Medicines and Allied Substances [No. of 2013 39
(d) the compounding of prescriptions and the dispensing of medicines or allied substances by medical doctors, dental surgeons, veterinary surgeons and the conditions under which the compounding and dispensing of medicines may be earned out;
(e) the records to be kept by pharmacies, health shops and agro-veterinary shops;
(f)the advertising, promotion and labelling of medicines and allied substances;
(g) the recall or withdrawal of medicines and allied substances that do not meet the prescribed standards of quality, efficacy and safety;
(h)the handling of donated medicines; (i) the disposal of obsolete, expired or unwanted medicines or
allied substances, in consultation with the Zambia Environmental Management Agency;
(j)the storage and standards for medicines and allied substances;
(k) the period for which any books or registers required to be kept for the purposes of this Act are to be preserved;
(l) the fees to be paid for certificates, permits, authorisations and licences under this Act;
(m) the restriction of the number and location of entry points through which medicines, herbal medicines or allied substances may be imported or exported;
(n) the categorisation of methods of sale for medicines and allied substances; and
(o) generally the carrying into effect of the purposes of this Act.
70. (1) The Pharmaceutical Act, 2004, is hereby repealed. (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the provisions of the Second
Schedule apply in respect of the matters specified therein.
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a person who immediately before the commencement of this Act held office as a member of the Board of the former Authority shall hold office as a member of the Board for a period of three months after which the Minister shall appoint the members of the Board in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
(4) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a licence or certificate issued under the repealed Act shall continue to be valid for six months, after which the holder of the licence or certificate shall apply for a licence, permit, authorisation or certificate in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
Repeal of Act No. 14 of 2004
Act No. 14 of 2004
40 No. of 2013] Medicines and Allied Substances
Tenure of office and vacancy
Filling of casual vacancy
Proceedings of Board
FIRST SCHEDULE (Section 3(3))
THE ZAMBIA MEDICINES REGULATORY AUTHORITY PART I
ADMINISTRATION OF AUTHORITY
1. (1) Subject to the other provisions of this Act, a member of the Board shall hold office for a period of three years and may be re appointed for one further period of three years.
(2) A member may resign upon giving one month’s notice, in writing, to the Minister.
(3) The office of a member shall become vacant— (a) if the member is absent, without reasonable excuse, from
three consecutive meetings of the Board of which the member has had notice;
(b) if the member is adjudged bankrupt; (c) if the member is convicted of an offence under this Act or
any other written law and sentenced to imprisonment for a period exceeding six months;
(d) if the member ceases to be a representative or member of the institution which recommended the member;
(e) if the member is found guilty of professional misconduct; (f)if the member becomes mentally or physically incapable of
performing the duties of a member; or (g) upon the member’s death.
(4) On the expiration of the period for which a member is appointed the member shall continue to hold office until a successor has been appointed but in no case shall the further period exceed four months.
2. The Minister may, where the office of a member becomes vacant before the expiry of the term of office, appoint another member in place of the member who vacates office but that member shall hold office only for the unexpired part of the term.
3. (1) Subject to the other provisions of this Act, the Board may regulate its own procedure.
(2) The Board shall meet for the transaction of business at least once in every three months at such places and times as the Board may determine.
Medicines and Allied Substances [No. of 2013 41 (3) A meeting of the Board may be called by the Chairperson,
upon giving notice of not less than fourteen days, and shall be called by the Chairperson if not less than one-third of the members so request in writing,except that if the urgency of any particular matter does not permit the giving of the notice, a special meeting may be called upon giving a shorter notice.
(4) The Chairperson, or in the absence of the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson, with six other members shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board.
(5) There shall preside at any meeting of the Board— (a) the Chairperson; (b) in the absence of the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson;
and (c) in the absence of the Chairperson and the Vice-
Chairperson, such other member as the members present may elect for the purpose of that meeting.
(6)Adecision of the Board on any question shall be by a majority of the members present and voting at the meeting and in the event of an equality of votes, the person presiding at the meeting shall have a casting vote in addition to that person’s deliberative vote.
(7) The Board may invite any person, whose presence is in its opinion desirable, to attend and to participate in the deliberations of the meeting of the Board, but that person shall not have any vote.
(8) Where a member is for any reason unable to attend a meeting of the Board, the member may, in writing, nominate another person from the same organisation to attend the meeting in that member’s stead and that person shall be deemed to be a member for the purpose of that meeting.
(9) The validity of any proceedings, acts or decisions of the Board shall not be affected by any vacancy in the membership of the Board or by any defect in the appointment of any member or by reason that any person not entitled to do so, took part in the proceedings.
4. There shall be paid to a member of the Board or a committee of the Board such allowances as the Minister may determine.
5. (1) If any person is present at a meeting of the Board or any committee of the Board at which any matter is the subject of consideration, and in which matter that person or that persons relative is directly or indirectly interested in a private capacity, that
Allowances of member
Disclosure of interest
42 No. of 2013] Medicines and Allied Substances
Prohibition of publication or disclosure of information to unauthorised persons
Immunity
Funds of Authority
person shall, as soon as is practicable after the commencement of the meeting, declare that interest and shall not, unless the Board or the committee otherwise directs, take part in any consideration or discussion of, or vote on, any question relating to that matter.
(2) A declaration of interest made under subparagraph (1) shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting at which it is made.
(3) In this paragraph, “ relative ” in relation to a person means— (a)a parent, son, daughter, brother, sister, niece, uncle, auntie,
grandparent or cousin of the person or that person’s spouse; and
(b) a spouse of that person. 6. (1) A person shall not, without the consent in writing given
by, or on behalf of, the Authority, publish or disclose to any unauthorised person, otherwise than in the course of duties of that person, the contents of any document, communication, or information whatsoever, which relates to or which has come to the knowledge of that person in the course of that person’s duties under this Act.
(2) A person who contravenes subparagraph (1) commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand penalty units or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years, or to both.
(3)Aperson who, having any information which to the knowledge of that person has been published or disclosed in contravention of subparagraph (1), unlawfully publishes or communicates the information to any other person, commits an offence and is liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding five hundred thousand penalty units or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years, or to both.
7. An action or other proceeding shall not lie or be instituted against a member of the Board or a member of a committee of the Board for, or in respect of, any act or thing done or omitted to be done in good faith in the exercise or performance of, or purported exercise or performance of any of the powers, functions or duties conferred under this Act.
PART II FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
8. (1) The funds of the Authority shall consist of such moneys as may—
Medicines and Allied Substances [No. of 2013 43
(a) be appropriated to the Authority by Parliament for the purposes of the Authority;
(b) be paid to theAuthority by way of fees, grants or donations; and
(c) otherwise vest in or accrue to the Authority. (2) The Authority may, subject to the approval of the Minister—
(a) accept moneys by way of grants or donations from any source within or outside Zambia; and
(b) raise by way of loans or otherwise, such moneys as it may require for the discharge of its functions.
(3) There shall be paid from the funds of the Authority— (a) the salaries, allowances, loans, gratuities and pensions of
members of staff of the Authority; (b) such reasonable travelling and other allowances for the
members of the Board and of any committee of the Board when engaged on the business of the Authority, at such rates as the Minister may determine; and
(c) any other expenses incurred by the Authority in the performance of its functions under this Act.
(4) The Authority may, subject to the approval of the Minister, invest in such manner as it considers appropriate such funds of the Authority which it does not immediately require for the discharge of its functions.
9. The financial year of the Authority shall be a period of twelve months ending on 31st December in each year.
10. (1) The Authority shall cause to be kept proper books of account and other records relating to its accounts.
(2) The Authority shall, within ninety days of expiry of financial year, submit to the Minister a report concerning its activities during the financial year.
(3) The report referred to in subparagraph (2) shall include statements of income and expenditure and a statement of affairs or balance sheet.
(4) The accounts of the Authority shall be audited annually or whenever necessary by the Auditor-General.
11. (1) As soon as practicable, but not later than six months after the end of the financial year, the Authority shall submit to the Minister a report concerning its activities during that financial year.
Financial year
Accounts and audit
Annual report
44 No. of 2013] Medicines and Allied Substances
Staff of Authority
Transfer of assets and liabilities
(2) The report referred to in subparagraph (1) shall include information on the financial affairs of the Authority and there shall be appended to that report—
(a) an audited balance sheet; (b) an audited statement of income and expenditure; and (c) such other information as the Minister may require.
(3) The Minister shall, not later than seven days after the first sitting of the National Assembly next after receipt of the report referred to in subparagraph (1), lay the report before the National Assembly.
SECOND SCHEDULE (Section 68(2))
SAVINGS AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
1. (1) For the avoidance of doubt, a person who, before the commencement of this Act, was an officer or employee of the former Authority, shall continue to be an officer or employee of the Authority, as the case may be, as if appointed or employed under this Act.
(2) The service of the persons referred to in subparagraph (1) shall be treated as continuous service.
(3) Nothing in this Act affects the rights and liabilities of any person employed or appointed by the former Authority before the commencement of this Act.
2. (1) On or after the commencement of this Act, there shall be transferred to, vest in and subsist against the Authority by virtue of this Act and without further assurance, all assets, rights and obligations which immediately before that date were the assets, rights, liabilities and obligations of the former Authority.
(2) Subject to sub-paragraph (1), every deed,bond and agreement, other than an agreement for personnel service, to which the former Authority was a party immediately before the commencement of this Act whether or not of such a nature that rights, liabilities and obligations could be assigned, shall, unless its subject matter or terms make it impossible that it should have effect as modified, as provided under this paragraph, have effect as if—
(a) the Authority had been party to it; (b) for any reference to the former Authority there was
substituted, with respect to anything required to be done on or after the commencement of this Act, a reference to the Authority; or
Medicines and Allied Substances [No. of 2013 45
(c) for any reference to any officer of the former Authority, not being a party to it and beneficially interested, there were substituted, with respect to anything required to be done on or after the commencement of this Act, a reference to such officer of the Authority as it shall designate.
(3) Where under this Act, any assets, rights, liabilities and obligations of the former Authority are deemed to be transferred to the Authority in respect of which transfer a written law provides for registration, the Authority shall make an application, in writing, to the appropriate registration authority for registration of the transfer.
(4) The registration authority, referred to in subparagraph (2), shall make such entries in the appropriate register as shall give effect to the transfer and, where applicable, issue to the transferee concerned a certificate of title in respect of the property or make necessary amendments to the register and shall endorse the deeds relating to the title, right or obligation concerned and no registration fees or other duties shall be payable in respect of the transaction.
3. (1) Any legal proceedings or application of the former Authority pending immediately before the commencement of this Act by or against the former Authority may be continued by or against the Authority.
(2) After the commencement of this Act, proceedings in respect of any right, liability or obligation which was vested in, held, enjoyed, incurred or suffered by the former Authority, may be instituted by or against the Authority.
Legal proceedings