New Safety Measures for Codeine Liquid Preparations in Effect on January 2, 2020 Dec. 9, 2019

Considerations for Community Pharmacies 

Managers of Community Pharmacies involved in the dispensing of any of the above codeine containing liquid preparations will be required to implement the following measures on or before January 2, 2020: 

Storage of applicable codeine containing liquid preparations in a time-delay safe.

• In order to accommodate this change, pharmacy managers may need to reconfigure the shelves in their pharmacy’s safe or transfer current supplies of codeine containing liquid preparations into appropriately sized containers. 

Require the use of CPP duplicate prescription forms when dispensing applicable codeine containing liquid preparations.

• As of January 2, 2020, BC pharmacists may no longer fill prescriptions for applicable codeine containing liquid preparations unless they have been prescribed in writing using a CPP duplicate prescription pad. 
• Pharmacists should remind prescribing physicians to ensure use of duplicate prescription pads for these products, if not already doing so. 
• For more information on the duplicate prescriptions see the Controlled Prescription Program information. 

Questions about the Controlled Prescription Program or pharmacy security requirements can be directed to practicesupport@bcpharmacists.org.  

While these requirements are not in effect until January 2, 2020, community pharmacy managers are encouraged to begin implementation of these measures at their earliest convenience.