whom it applies, and shall cause notice of any such direction to be published in the London, Edinburgh and Belfast Gazettes.
(5) A direction under this section shall take effect when a copy of it is served on the person to whom it applies.
(6) It is an offence to contravene a direction given under subsection (2) above.
(7) In section 80 of the 1968 c. 67.Medicines Act 1968 (under which a body corporate carrying on a retail pharmacy business may be disqualified for the purposes of Part IV of that Act and have its premises removed from the register kept under section 75 of that Act, where that body or any member of the board of that body or any officer or any employee of that body is convicted of an offence under any of the relevant Acts as defined in subsection (5)), for the words “and this Act” in subsection (5) there shall be substituted the words “this Act and the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971”.
Directions prohibiting prescribing, supply etc. of controlled drugs by practitioners in other cases. 13.—(1) In the event of a contravention by a doctor of regulations made in pursuance of paragraph (h) or (i) of section 10(2) of this Act, or of the terms of a licence issued under regulations made in pursuance of the said paragraph (i), the Secretary of State may, subject to and in accordance with section 14 of this Act, give a direction in respect of the doctor concerned prohibiting him from prescribing, administering and supplying and from authorising the administration and supply of such controlled drugs as may be specified in the direction.
(2) If the Secretary of State is of the opinion that a practitioner is or has after the coming into operation of this subsection been prescribing, administering or supplying or authorising the administration or supply of any controlled drugs in an irresponsible manner, the Secretary of State may, subject to and in accordance with section 14 or 15 of this Act, give a direction in respect of the practitioner concerned prohibiting him from prescribing, administering and supplying and from authorising the administration and supply of such controlled drugs as may be specified in the direction.
(3) A contravention such as is mentioned in subsection (1) above does not as such constitute an offence, but it is an offence to contravene a direction given under subsection (1) or (2) above.
Investigation where grounds for a direction under s. 13 are considered to exist.
14.—(1) If the Secretary of State considers that there are grounds for giving a direction under subsection (1) of section 13 of this Act on account of such a contravention by a doctor as is there mentioned, or for giving a direction under subsection
