The advice is for those purchasing single cylinders of medical gases.

The British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA) has published guidance to support veterinary practices with choosing medical gas cylinder suppliers.

Technical Sub-Committee 7 (TSC7), the BCGA’s specialist subcommittee for medical gases, has produced leaflet 22, entitled ‘Medical Gases. Selecting a Medical Gas Cylinder Supplier’, which is available for download on the BCGA website.

The leaflet explains the basic checks that purchasers should carry out when selecting medical gas cylinders, ensuring it is legitimate, for medical use and is supplied by an authorised supplier.

Medical oxygen should only be supplied by manufacturers and wholesale dealers with the appropriate licence issued by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The gas cylinder suppliers must hold a Wholesale Dealer’s Licence (WDA(H) from the MHRA to manufacture and supply gas in cylinders.

The advice is particularly directed to veterinary practices, dentists and First Aid responders, who may buy cylinders individually.

The guidance follows a recall of medical oxygen tanks after the MHRA found that several dental practices across the UK had been supplied with falsified medical oxygen.

The supplier of the oxygen, Tricodent Limited, is now part of an ongoing criminal investigation. Full details of the recall, published 6 June 2023, can be found here.

The BCGA asks that any defective or falsified medical items are reported on their Yellow Card Scheme website.

Jake Lake, BCGA technical manager, said: “The MHRA has issued a recall notice for the falsified medicines and has also requested BCGA provide suitable guidance to help purchasers identify bona fide, licensed suppliers.
 
“As a result, TSC7 has produced Leaflet 22, ‘Medical Gases. Selecting A Medical Gas Cylinder Supplier.’
 
“Medical gases are classified as medicines and can only be provided by bona fide companies, including those in BCGA membership, who have the appropriate licences, which are issued by the UK Regulator, the MHRA.”

The leaflet can be downloaded from the BCGA’s Publication area here.

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