James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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468. To ask the Minister for Health the procedures he has in place to prevent persons who are under age or minors from purchasing paracetemol-type medicines at self-service points in supermarkets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6715/16]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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There is no prohibition, on age grounds, as regards the retail sale of paracetamol-containing products. The sale of medicinal products that consist of, or contain, paracetamol are governed by Regulations 13 to 16 of the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003, as amended. These regulations provide that paracetamol may only be supplied, without prescription, from pharmacies and non-pharmacy outlets, subject to certain restrictions on presentation and quantities supplied.

Regulation 17 provides that medicines cannot be sold from a self-service device. The Health Products Regulatory Authority, the regulator for medicines, is considering whether this provision may have application to the sale of medicines through automatic tills.