MHRA consults on school adrenaline sprays

What was announced

The MHRA has opened a UK-wide consultation on proposals to let schools buy and keep spare adrenaline nasal sprays for the emergency treatment of anaphylaxis, a serious allergic reaction. Schools in England can already hold spare adrenaline auto-injectors, and the consultation asks for views on allowing them to hold nasal sprays too.

Under the proposals, schools could choose to hold auto-injectors, nasal sprays or both, and either product could be used whichever device a pupil was prescribed. The consultation was published on 19 October 2026 and closes on 14 December 2026.

What it means

The MHRA says the existing safeguards would remain: emergency adrenaline could only be given to children known to be at risk of anaphylaxis, and by appropriately trained staff. School supplies would act as a backup and would not replace the expectation that children carry their own prescribed adrenaline medicine.

The MHRA approved an adrenaline nasal spray in July 2025, the first needle-free emergency treatment for anaphylaxis in the UK. The site's food allergy page gives background on allergic reactions.