The overall purpose of this guidance is to improve patient safety in the use of non-prescription medicinal products containing codeine (hereafter called ‘codeine medicine’) by ensuring the safe supply of codeine medicines by pharmacists. This guidance is intended to assist pharmacists in meeting their legal and professional responsibilities when supplying these medicines to patients and when providing advice, guidance and assistance in respect of the use of these medicines. It is also intended to assist superintendent and supervising pharmacists in securing compliance with relevant legislative and professional obligations under the Pharmacy Act 2007, including the Regulation of Retail Pharmacy Businesses Regulations 2008 (S.I. No. 488 of 2008).