Online pharmacies suffer a legal set-back

Although this may delay it entering into force, the thrust of the opinion should please online pharmacists, as it argues that the regulatory burden envisaged for online pharmacies is excessive.  UKIE says that the draft regulation contravenes both the letter and spirit of EU law by introducing unjustifiably tight restrictions on the storage and transportation of drugs by online pharmacies, as well as requiring them to have 24 hour hotlines. "The ministry says that unlike at a brick-and-mortar pharmacy, there is no opportunity for consultation with a pharmacist on the internet. But we think detailed information on the pharmacy's website would be enough," says Tomasz Krawczyk of UKIE. The ministry may ignore UKIE's opinion, but it would now run the risk of lawsuits before the European Court of Justice. (Puls Biznesu, 6, 7) R.M.