Consultation Proposes Adrenaline Nasal Sprays for Schools
Around 8% of children and young people in the UK have a food allergy, and schools now face a potential shift in how they manage severe reactions. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency launched a consultation on proposals allowing schools to purchase and keep spare adrenaline nasal sprays for emergency use. The consultation runs UK-wide in partnership with the Department of Health in Northern Ireland, addressing a setting where around 20% of serious allergic reactions to food happen.
Under the new proposals, schools could choose to hold adrenaline auto-injectors, adrenaline nasal sprays, or a combination of both. Existing safeguards remain fully intact, meaning emergency adrenaline can only be administered to children known to be at risk of anaphylaxis and by appropriately trained school staff. The policy does not require schools to stock any specific brand or product, nor does it replace the expectation that children carry their own prescribed adrenaline medicine.
Stakeholder Responses and Safeguards
Minister for Health James Frith MP emphasized the practical goal of the initiative, stating that parents should be able to send children to school knowing the right help is there in an emergency. Julian Beach, MHRA Executive Director, Operations, noted that the nasal devices offer an additional treatment option while ensuring healthcare legislation keeps pace with medical developments. Amena Warner, Head of Clinical Services, Allergy UK, added that storing a needle-free device administered through the nose offers families an easy-to-use option that builds confidence during an allergic emergency.
School leaders and medical experts have also weighed in on the operational aspects of the rollout. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the school leaders’ union NAHT, stressed that any adopted measures must remain safe, practical, and properly supported with clear guidance and training. Meanwhile, Prof Adam Fox OBE, Chair, National Allergy Strategy Group, highlighted that while incorporating newer treatments represents a significant step forward, schools must avoid creating confusion or unintended consequences.
Future Legislation and Timeline
The consultation explores whether future legislation should adopt broader terminology for self-administered adrenaline products. Such a change would allow newly authorized treatments to reach schools more quickly without requiring separate legislative amendments each time. The eight-week consultation opened on 19 October and closes on 14 December 2026, welcoming feedback from parents, teachers, healthcare professionals, and affected families.
This initiative follows the implementation of new allergy-safety requirements in England that came into force in September 2026 as part of the first phase of Benedict’s Law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can administer the emergency adrenaline in schools?
Emergency adrenaline can only be administered by appropriately trained school staff to children who are known to be at risk of anaphylaxis.
Are schools required to purchase the new nasal sprays?
No, the proposals allow schools to choose whether they wish to hold adrenaline auto-injectors, adrenaline nasal sprays, or both products, and it would not require schools to stock a particular product or brand.
When does the consultation close for public feedback?
The consultation opened on 19 October and closes on 14 December 2026.
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