A temporary ban on the sale or supply of puberty blockers has been extended to cover Northern Ireland.

Puberty blockers work by suppressing the release of hormones and are often prescribed to children questioning their gender.

In May, the Conservative government tightened rules on the drugs, introducing an emergency ban on them being prescribed by private and European prescribers.

This ban, which has been renewed, will come into effect in Northern Ireland from 27 August.

BBC News NI understands the matter was dealt with by way of urgent procedure, with the order signed off by the first and deputy first ministers without wider Executive approval.

In Northern Ireland, puberty blockers were only available on NHS prescription for under-18s, for those young people who were accepted and remain on the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Gender Identity Service endocrine pathway prior to March 2020.

It is understood children on this medical pathway will continue to receive treatment.

The move to ban puberty blockers came after a report into children’s gender services – the Cass Review – said there were “gaps in evidence” around the drugs.

The review was led by leading paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass and prompted the last government to ban the use of puberty blockers for under-18s questioning their gender – a move which was then supported by Labour when they won the election.

Westminster has now extended that temporary legislation, which previously did not include Northern Ireland.

Transgender youth support charity Mermaids said it is “very disappointed” by the decision to extend the ban to Northern Ireland as it “sets a worrying precedent”.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said that he had “secured executive approval” to extend the temporary ban, pending agreement on “a long-term solution”.

On the use of an urgent decision under the ministerial code, Mr Nesbitt told BBC’s Talkback programme that he he had a hard deadline to meet, which had “implications” for the entire UK.

Mr Nesbitt agreed the matter of puberty blockers “would be a valid point” to put on the agenda for the next meeting of the Northern Ireland Executive.

The minister added that he had shared a paper outlining the rationale for the decision, but he would not be drawn on whether any executive colleagues responded to this.

In a statement, the Department of Health (DoH) said that, in light of the Cass Review, “and to close potential loopholes that could be exploited by not having a UK-wide legislative approach,”  Mr Nesbitt concluded that Northern Ireland should align with Great Britain.

It comes as the former boss of Mermaids, trans activist and director of Anne, Susie Green, said she planned to exploit a legal loophole in Northern Ireland to bring the drugs into Britain.

“Labour’s choice to remove NI as an option for families accessing puberty blockers simply increases the costs and inconvenience for patients who will now travel further afield, increasing the inequity,” Ms Green told BBC News NI.

“This updated legislation was signed off without the full support of the Northern Ireland Executive, which raises additional concerns about its motivation and legitimacy,” she added.

“We are deeply concerned about the motivations and callous lack of regard for how this will impact young people and their families… Politics has no place in medicine, and it is deeply shameful that this is happening.”

BBC News NI has asked the Executive Office for a comment.