S.L. 458.49 Art. 3Form and content of prescription.

Every prescription shall:

(a) be easily legible and written in ink or in other indelible manner;

(b) bear the date on which it is written, clearly indicate in a legible manner and in block letters the full name, professional qualification, work address (including the name of the relevant Member State) and contact details (e-mail and telephone or fax, the latter both with international prefix), such as the telephone number, of the prescriber as well as the registration number assigned by the relevant council, and shall be signed accordingly in original;

(c) bear the name, date of birth, age and locality of current residence of the patient and the 'Common name' as defined in article 2 of the Medicines Act; the brand name if (i) the prescribed product is a biological medicinal product, as defined in Part I, point 3.2.1.1. of the Schedule to the Medicines (Marketing

Authorisation) Regulations, or (ii) if the person authorised in accordance with article 81 of the Medicines Act to issue a prescription deems it medically necessary; in that case the prescription shall shortly state the reasons justifying the use of the brand name; the strength, dosage form, quantity and duration of treatment of each prescribed product included in the said prescription, together with clear instructions on how the prescribed product is to be taken or used. Repeat prescriptions are to be marked accordingly indicating the total period of duration of treatment;

(d) in the case of electronically generated prescriptions, bear the details in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) and must be officially signed by the prescriber, which may include digital signatures; and

(e) if the product prescribed qualifies under the criteria for prescribing a brand name as specified in paragraph (c), the pharmacist dispensing the product shall dispense the product with the brand name as prescribed.