Internet Sellers Of Non-Prescription Medicines Must Be Registered
July 01, 2015
Under new EU rules any supplier selling non-prescription medicines over the internet in Ireland must make an application to the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI), the pharmacy regulator, to be entered on to the internet supply list. Only suppliers listed are authorised to supply non-prescription medicines online. The introduction of the new EU-wide rules came into force at the end of June.
As part of the new rules, pharmacies and other retailers selling non-prescription medicines online must display a new EU-wide common logo on their website. This logo may only be used by suppliers, which are entered on the internet supply list.
Members of the public are advised to exercise care and stay safe if purchasing medicines online and to look for the EU common logo on the seller’s website. To verify the seller, the logo will link to the national regulatory authority (which is the PSI in Ireland) where the public can check the seller is entered on the internet supply list and authorised to supply non-prescription medicines online.
The rules apply to non-prescription medicines only. Prescription medicines are not permitted to be sold over the internet in Ireland.
Suppliers in other EU countries can supply non-prescription medicines into Ireland as long as the product supplied has been authorised for use in Ireland by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA). These EU websites must also display the EU common logo but will display the flag of the country in which it is established and will direct the public to the supplier list in that EU country.
“In partnership with the Department of Health, the PSI will oversee this new regulatory system that reflects EU policy governing the internet supply of non-prescription medicines. The objective is to prevent fake medicines that are unreliable and potentially harmful from reaching consumers and patients. Members of the public are strongly advised not to purchase medicines from an internet site which does not contain the EU common logo,” Marita Kinsella, PSI Registrar said.
She continued: “The purpose of these EU rules is to introduce controls to combat the sale of falsified or fake medicines. Fake medicines are an increasing health risk, which may be potentially harmful and may even prove fatal to the consumer. These measures are intended to assist members of the public to purchase safe and effective non-prescription medicines, if they choose to buy online.”
The PSI has already received applications from retailers to be entered onto the internet supply list, and that list is accessible to the public on this website.
These requirements apply to all pharmacies and other retailers who supply non-prescription medicines online. Pharmacies can sell pharmacy-only medicines and general sales list medicines. Other retailers can only sell general sales list medicines.
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