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Icelandic Medicines Agency Frontpage
Icelandic Medicines Agency Frontpage

Icelandic Medicines Agency

Medicinal products

Before a medicine reaches the market, the manufacturer must conduct extensive studies and have the results evaluated by medicines authorities to confirm quality and safety.

Defective and falsified medicines

Before a medicine is granted a marketing authorisation and placed on the market, it is assessed against strict quality standards covering clinical trials, manufacturing and subsequent distribution.

Safety features of medicinal products

Safety features on the packaging of medicines for human use are intended to prevent falsified medicines from entering the legitimate supply chain.

Quality Standards

All handling and management of medicinal products, such as manufacture, importation, distribution, use, effects and trials involving medicinal products, are subject to defined quality standards.

Importation of medicines by individuals

Importation of medicines by individuals refers to medicines brought into the country in personal luggage or in postal or freight shipments. Different rules apply to postal and freight shipments of medicines depending on their classification and where they are sent from.

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Is the product a medic­ine?

The Icelandic Medicines Agency determines whether substances or compounds are classified as medicinal products. Products that fall under the definition provided in the Medicinal Products Act require a marketing authorisation and must meet the standards applicable to medicinal products. It is prohibited to attribute medicinal properties to general products such as food supplements.

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