Vitamin A
Listed in the Consolidated Schedules as “Vitamin A and derivatives thereof”
(2E,4E,6E,8E)-3,7-Dimethyl-9-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexen-1-yl)nona-2,4,6,8-tetraen-1-ol
Drag to rotate. Structure from PubChem CID 445354.
Background
Listing
- Schedules
- Schedule 2, conditions apply
- Exceptions reach
- Schedule 0
- Cross-referenced to
- Schedule 3
- Source
- Consolidated Schedules 06 July 2026
Registered medicines
6 registered products listed
Counted through the register's ingredient index, which does not reach every record.
| Name | Brands | Dosages | Applicants | Registrations | Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neomycin, nitrofurazone, prednisolone, vitamin a palmitate Cancelled | Prenine | ointment | Elanco Animal Health (Pty) Ltd | 83/134 | S1 to S4conditions apply |
| Ascorbic acid, caffeine, ephedrine, thiamine, vitamin a Cancelled | Be-leane slimming | capsules | The Premier Pharmaceutical Co Ltd | E1251 | S1 to S6conditions apply |
| Ergocalciferol, nicotinamide, thiamine, vitamin a, vitamin b2, vitamin b6, vitamin c Cancelled | Norstan-multivitamin | syrup | Hoechst Marion Roussel Ltd | H2072 | S1 to S3conditions apply |
| Ergocalciferol, nicotinamide, thiamine, vitamin a, vitamin b2, vitamin c Cancelled | Norstan-multivitamin | tablet | Hoechst Marion Roussel Ltd | H2094 | S1 to S3conditions apply |
| Nicotinamide, thiamine, vitamin a, vitamin c, vitamin d Cancelled | Multiple vitamin | tablet | Hoechst Marion Roussel Ltd | H2496 | S1 to S3conditions apply |
| Vitamin a | Gnld vitamin a | Not stated | Golden Neo-life Diamite (Pty) Ltd | T1134 | S2conditions apply |
1 more registered product name Vitamin A in their active ingredient
| Name | Brands | Dosages | Applicants | Registrations | Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin a, vitamin d2, vitamin e, vitamin k1 | Vitalipid novum adult | Not stated | Fresenius Kabi South Africa (Pty) Ltd | Z0236 |
Regulatory status
Where S2 sits on the scale
A pharmacist can sell it directly, without a prescription.
Schedule 2 medicines sit behind the pharmacy counter. A pharmacist can decide to sell one of these directly, using their own professional judgement, without a doctor's prescription. It can also be dispensed against a prescription like the higher tiers, in which case the usual repeat limits apply. A child under 12 may only be sold a Schedule 2 substance on a prescription, or on a written order that names the purpose and carries a signature the seller recognises. Even though it cannot be advertised to the public in the ordinary sense, its price, name, pack size and strength can still be told to the public, as long as nothing links it to what it treats.
Schedule S2, as the Consolidated Schedules list it.
Who may supply: Only a pharmacist, pharmacist intern or supervised pharmacist's assistant may sell it without a prescription. It may otherwise be dispensed by a pharmacist against a written or verbal prescription from an authorised prescriber; a veterinarian, who may also prescribe, compound or dispense it directly; a medical practitioner or dentist, who may prescribe it and may compound or dispense it directly only if licensed under section 22C(1)(a); and, for animal treatment, a person practising a para-veterinary profession, on a veterinarian's written or verbal instruction.
Consolidated Schedules listings for Vitamin a
S2: Vitamin A
- including retinol, retinal, retinoic acids and beta-carotene (but excluding isotretinoin) and not listed elsewhere in the Schedules, contained in preparations or mixtures containing more than 5 000 I.U (or 1 500 milligrams of the retinol equivalent or 3 000 milligrams of the beta-carotene equivalent) but not more than 10 000 I.U (or 3 000 milligrams of the retinol equivalent or 6 000 milligrams of the beta-carotene equivalent) of Vitamin A per recommended daily dose alone or in combination with other active pharmaceutical ingredients, except when registered in terms of the provisions of the Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agriculture Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 1947 (Act 36 of 1947). (S0, S3)
Consolidated Schedules 06 July 2026, lines 2755 to 2761
This is an informational summary of the Medicines and Related Substances Act 101 of 1965 and its 2017 General Regulations. It is not medical advice and not legal advice. Always check the medicine's label, which carries the schedule number inside a square border, or ask a pharmacist if you are unsure.