The provision of sterile needles, syringes and containers through the Needle and Syringe Programme is part of broader harm reduction efforts to support safe injecting practice and reduce the risk of blood-borne viruses.
The Health (Needles and Syringes) Regulations 1998 enable the Director-General of Health to approve the kinds of needles, syringes, containers and labelling that can be sold for distribution as part of a needle and syringe programme.
Approved needles, syringes and containers
The equipment listed below is approved by the Director-General of Health to be distributed by pharmacists, pharmacy employees, medical practitioners or authorised representatives through the Needle and Syringe Programme. The list below replaces the Health (Approval of Needles and Syringes) Notice 1996.
Any needles, syringes or other equipment approved under this list must meet relevant standards for the manufacture of medical devices.
Needles
- 16g x 1 1/2 needle
- 18g x 1 1/2 needle
- 19g x 1 1/2 needle
- 20g x 1 needle
- 21g x 1 needle
- 21g x 1 1/2 needle
- 22g x 3/4 needle
- 22g x 1 1/2 needle
- 23g x 1 needle
- 23g x 1 1/4 needle
- 23g x 3/4 needle
- 24g x 1 needle
- 25g x 1 needle
- 25g x 1 1/2 needle
- 25g x 5/8 needle
- 26g x 1/2 needle
- 26g x 5/8 needle
- 27g x 1/2 needle
- 27g x 1 & ½ needle
- 30g x 1/2 needle
- 23g x 38mm TW needle
Other needles
- 23g butterfly needle
- 25g x 3/4 butterfly needle
- 25g x 3/8 butterfly needle
- 14g catheter needle
- 16g catheter needle
- 18g catheter needle
- 27g vein set
Syringes
- 0.5ml insulin x29g syringe
- 1.0ml insulin x27g syringe
- 1.0ml insulin x29g syringe
- 1.0ml insulin x30g syringe
- 1ml luer lok syringe
- 3ml luer lok syringe
- 5ml luer lok syringe
- 10ml luer lok syringe
- 20ml luer lok syringe
- 30ml luer lok syringe
- 50ml luer lok syringe
- 0.5ml 27gx ½ insulin syringe
- 1ml leur slip syringe
- Syringe caps
Sharps containers
- 300ml sharps container
- 700ml sharps container
- 1200ml sharps container
