
1 
This order may be cited as the Medicines (Surgical Materials) Order 1971 and shall come into operation on 1st September 1971.
2 

(1) In this order unless the context otherwise requires—
 “the Act” means the Medicines Act 1968;and other expressions have the same meaning as in the Act.
(2) The Interpretation Act 1889 shall apply to the interpretation of this order as it applies to the interpretation of an Act of Parliament.
3 
The articles or substances described in the Schedule to this order are hereby specified as being articles or substances appearing to the Health Ministers to be articles or substances which are not medicinal products but are manufactured, sold, supplied, imported or exported for use wholly or partly for a medicinal purpose; and it is hereby directed that the provisions contained in Parts I and II of the Act, sections 62, 64, 65 and 67 of Part III of the Act, and the provisions contained in Parts V, VI and VIII of the Act shall have effect in relation to the said articles or substances described in the Schedule to this order, as those provisions have effect in relation to medicinal products.
Keith Joseph
Secretary of State for Social Services
29th July 1971Given under my hand on 29th July 1971.
Peter Thomas
Secretary of State for Wales
Given under my hand on 30th July 1971.
Gordon Campbell
Secretary of State for Scotland
Given under my hand on 30th July 1971.
W. K. Fitzsimmons
Minister of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland

SCHEDULE
1 
Any surgical ligature and surgical suture prepared from the gut or any tissue of an animal, or any form of binding material prepared from the gut or any tissue of an animal, which is manufactured, sold, supplied, imported or exported wholly or partly for use in surgical operations upon the human body.
2 
Any other surgical ligature or surgical suture prepared from any source, which is manufactured, sold, supplied, imported or exported wholly or partly for use in surgical operations upon the human body and is capable of being absorbed by body tissues.
3 
Any absorbent or protective material manufactured, sold, supplied, imported or exported wholly or partly for use in surgical operations upon the human body and capable of being absorbed by body tissues.