CONSTITUTION AND PROCEDURE
FOR THE
PRESCRIPTION MEDICINES CODE OF PRACTICE AUTHORITY
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
AMENDMENT NUMBER 1
PARAGRAPH 13 – CASE REPORTS
Paragraph 13.5
Current text
‘Full case reports in printed form are published each quarter by the Authority.
Copies of the reports are sent to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency,
the Office of Fair Trading, the British Medical Association, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society,
the Royal College of Nursing and the Editors of the BMJ, The Pharmaceutical Journal and
the Nursing Standard. Copies are also available to anyone on request.
Proposal
Add the Serious Fraud Office to the list of those to whom the case reports are sent.
Reason
Arising from the cooperation between the SFO and the Authority in the light of the Bribery
Act 2010.
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AMENDMENT NUMBER 2
PARAGRAPH 19 – AMENDMENTS TO THE CODE OF PRACTICE AND CONSTITUTION
AND PROCEDURE
Paragraph 19.1
Current text
‘The Code and this Constitution and Procedure may be amended by a simply majority of
those present and voting at a General Meeting of the ABPI.
Notwithstanding the above, where a proposal to amend the Code or this Constitution and
Procedure arises solely from the ABPI’s obligation to comply with the EFPIA Code on the
Promotion of Prescription-Only Medicines to, and Interactions with, Healthcare Professionals
and/or with the EFPIA Code of Practice on Relationships between the Pharmaceutical
Industry and Patient Organisations, both of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical
Industries and Associations, then the ABPI Board may decide that formal approval at an
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ABPI General Meeting is not necessary. ABPI member companies must, nonetheless, be
consulted in relation to the proposed texts of the changes.’
Proposal
Delete the second paragraph and replace by:
Notwithstanding the above, where a proposal to amend the Code or this Constitution and
Procedure arises solely from the ABPI’s obligation to comply with any code promulgated by
the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), then the
ABPI Board may decide that formal approval at an ABPI General Meeting is not necessary.
ABPI member companies must nonetheless be consulted in relation to the proposed texts of
the changes.’
Reason
To accommodate the new EFPIA Code on disclosure of transfers of value from
pharmaceutical companies to healthcare professionals and organizations in an open ended
way which will cover any future codes from EFPIA.
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AMENDMENT NUMBER 3
PARAGRAPH 19
Paragraph 19.2
Current text
‘The views of the Authority and the Appeal Board must be sought on any proposal to amend
the Code or this Constitution and Procedure. The views of the Medicines and Healthcare
products Regulatory Agency, the British Medical Association, the Royal Pharmaceutical
Society and the Royal College of Nursing must also be invited.’
Proposal
Add the Serious Fraud Office and the Office of Fair Trading to the list of those to be
consulted.
Reason
The Authority has consulted with the Serious Fraud Office since the Bribery Act 2010. The
Office of Fair Trading is sent copies of the case reports and has been consulted on occasion
about changes to the Code. Including it in Paragraph 19.2 will reflect this.
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26 June 2013
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