European Union
In the European Union (EU), it is possible to buy medicines online. Patients should only buy medicines from online retailers registered with the national competent authorities in the EU Member States, to reduce the risk of buying substandard or falsified medicines.
The European Commission has introduced a common logo that appears on the websites of these registered retailers.
Clicking on the logo will take you to the register of online retailers of the country where the retailer is established and registered, corresponding to the flag displayed on the logo. Once there, check that the retailer is listed. Do not continue with your purchase if the retailer is not on the list.
The national flag and the text are an integral part of the logo. Only national flags of an EU Member State, as well as those of Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein can be displayed. A logo that displays the EU flag, for example, is not authentic.
Legal framework
The legal framework for the common logo is set out in European Commission Directive 2001/83/EC as amended by Directive 2011/62/EU on falsified medicines for human use and by the Implementing Regulation 699/2014 on 24 June 2014.
List of registers of online medicine retailers
| EU Member State | Register of online retailers |
|---|---|
| Austria | https://versandapotheken.basg.gv.at |
| Belgium | http://www.fagg-afmps.be |
| Bulgaria | http://www.bda.bg |
| Croatia | http://www.halmed.hr |
| Czech Republic | http://www.sukl.eu |
| Denmark | http://laegemiddelstyrelsen.dk |
| Estonia | http://rkav.sm.ee |
| Finland | http://www.fimea.fi |
| France | http://www.ordre.pharmacien.fr |
| Germany | http://www.dimdi.de |
| Hungary | http://www.ogyei.gov.hu |
| Ireland | http://thepsi.ie |
| Italy | http://www.salute.gov.it |
| Latvia | https://www.zva.gov.lv |
| Lithuania | http://www.vvkt.lt |
| Malta | http://medicinesauthority.gov.mt |
| Netherlands | http://www.aanbiedersmedicijnen.nl |
| Slovakia | http://www.sukl.sk |
| Slovenia | http://www.mz.gov.si |
| Spain | http://www.distafarma.aemps.es |
| Sweden | https://lakemedelsverket.se |
| United Kingdom | http://www.gov.uk/mhra |