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Icelandic Medicines Agency Frontpage
Icelandic Medicines Agency Frontpage

Icelandic Medicines Agency

Licence for online sales

Pharmacy licence holders may engage in the online sale of medicines in Iceland. The online sale of medicines is governed by Regulation No. 1340/2022. The Icelandic Medicines Agency (IMA) supervises the implementation of the Regulation and publishes information on its website about the distance selling of medicines via the internet.

Registration process

In accordance with Article 37 of the Medicinal Products Act, holders of pharmacy licences, cf. Article 34 of the same Act, who intend to engage in the online sale of medicines on the basis of such a licence must notify IMA no later than when online sales begin. Such a notification can be submitted electronically to IMA.

The notification must include the following information:

  1. The name or business name and permanent address of the site from which the medicines are distributed

  2. The date on which distance selling of medicines begins

  3. The address of the website to be used and any other relevant information needed to identify the website.

IMA keeps a register of pharmacy licence holders who have notified the agency that they engage in the online sale of medicines.

Websites for the mail-order and online sale of medicines must contain the following information:

  1. Contact details for IMA

  2. A link to IMA's web page on the distance selling of medicines

  3. The EU common logo, clearly displayed on every page of the website, showing which medicines are offered to the public by distance selling via the internet. The common logo must contain a link to the entry under point (b) of paragraph 2 in the list of those authorised to sell medicines at a distance

Common logo for online retailers authorised to sell medicines

Anyone operating the mail-order and online sale of medicines is required to display the EU common logo on their website, clearly displayed on every page of the website, showing which medicines are offered to the public by distance selling via the internet.

The logo enables the public to identify in which country the online retailer is established and where it is subject to supervision. The logo bears the national flag of the country in which the online retailer operates, and clicking on the logo opens the website of that country's national medicines agency, showing a list of authorised online retailers.

Information on the logo and how it works can be found on the European Medicines Agency website.

It is important to bear in mind that the legal status of medicines (e.g. over-the-counter or prescription-only) and other conditions for their supply may differ between Member States of the European Economic Area.

Scope of the Regulation

The authorisation of pharmacy licence holders who are permitted to operate the online sale of medicines covers prescription medicines and medicines sold without a prescription.

Otherwise, the same dispensing restrictions apply to medicines sold by mail order and online as to the dispensing of other medicines. The pharmacy licence holder is responsible for ensuring that medicines reach the right person, e.g. by registered mail, and that the shipment is traceable.

The dispensing and distribution of medicines sold online must comply with Regulation No. 1340/2022.