Icelandic Medicines Agency
Sale of medicines outside pharmacies
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Where no pharmacy or pharmacy branch operates, the Icelandic Medicines Agency (IMA) may authorise the sale of certain over-the-counter medicines in general retail outlets.
For the sale of certain over-the-counter medicines in a general retail outlet to be permitted, IMA requires the distance to the nearest pharmacy or pharmacy branch to exceed 20 kilometres. A general retail outlet means any retail outlet operating without a pharmacy licence.
Medicines permitted for sale
The packs that general retail outlets granted an exemption from the provisions of the Medicinal Products Act on the sale of medicines may offer for sale are listed below.
Staff at general retail outlets may supply a customer with one pack of medicine per active substance in each transaction. This means that two or more packs of medicines containing different active substances may be supplied.
Examples:
A customer may be supplied with one pack of Histasín and one pack of Íbúfen, but must not be supplied with two packs of Histasín or two packs of Íbúfen.
Paratabs and Panodil contain the same active substance, so a customer may only be supplied with one pack of either medicine, not both.
Active substance: Cetirizinum
Name of medicine | Pharmaceutical form | Strength | Pack size | Packaging |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Film-coated tablet | 10 mg | 10 tablets | Blister pack | |
Film-coated tablet | 10 mg | 10 tablets | Blister pack | |
Film-coated tablet | 10 mg | 10 tablets | Blister pack |
Each customer must not be supplied with more than one medicine from this list.
Active substance: Ibuprofenum
Name of medicine | Pharmaceutical form | Strength | Pack size | Packaging |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Oral suspension | 20 mg/ml | 200 ml | Bottle | |
Film-coated tablet | 200 mg | 20 tablets | Blister pack | |
Oral suspension | 40 mg/ml | 100 ml | Bottle | |
Oral suspension | 40 mg/ml | 100 ml | Bottle |
Each customer must not be supplied with more than one medicine from this list.
Active substance: Loratadinum
Name of medicine | Pharmaceutical form | Strength | Pack size | Packaging |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tablet | 10 mg | 10 tablets | Blister pack |
Each customer may only be supplied with one pack of this medicine.
Active substance: Paracetamolum
Name of medicine | Pharmaceutical form | Strength | Pack size | Packaging |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tablet | 500 mg | 20 tablets | Blister pack | |
Suppository | 125 mg | 10 suppositories | Blister pack | |
Suppository | 250 mg | 10 suppositories | Blister pack | |
Film-coated tablet | 500 mg | 20 tablets | Blister pack | |
Effervescent tablet | 500 mg | 20 tablets | Blister pack | |
Powder for oral solution | 500 mg | 10 sachets | Sachet | |
Oral suspension | 24 mg/ml | 100 ml | Bottle | |
Suppository | 125 mg | 10 suppositories | Blister pack | |
Film-coated tablet | 500 mg | 20 tablets | Blister pack | |
Suppository | 125 mg | 10 suppositories | Blister pack | |
Suppository | 60 mg | 10 suppositories | Blister pack | |
Film-coated tablet | 500 mg | 20 tablets | Blister pack | |
Suppository | 500 mg | 10 suppositories | Blister pack | |
Oral solution | 24 mg/ml | 100 ml | Bottle | |
Suppository | 125 mg | 10 suppositories | Blister pack | |
Suppository | 250 mg | 10 suppositories | Blister pack |
Each customer must not be supplied with more than one medicine from this list.
Active substances: 2,4-dichlorobenzyl alcohol and amylmetacresol
Name of medicine | Pharmaceutical form | Strength | Pack size | Packaging |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Lozenge | 1.2 and 0.6 mg | 24 lozenges | Blister pack | |
Lozenge | 1.2 and 0.6 mg | 24 lozenges | Blister pack | |
Lozenge | 1.2 and 0.6 mg | 24 lozenges | Blister pack | |
Lozenge | 1.2 and 0.6 mg | 24 lozenges | Blister pack |
Each customer must not be supplied with more than one medicine from this list.
Active substance: Activated charcoal
Name of medicine | Pharmaceutical form | Strength | Pack size | Packaging |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Oral suspension | 150 mg/ml | 100 ml | Bottle |
Each customer may only be supplied with one pack of this medicine.
Active substance: Carbomerum
Name of medicine | Pharmaceutical form | Strength | Pack size | Packaging |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Eye gel | 2.5 mg/ml | 0.5 g × 30 | Single-dose container |
Each customer may only be supplied with one pack of this medicine.
Active substance: Ketotifenum
Name of medicine | Pharmaceutical form | Strength | Pack size | Packaging |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Eye drops, solution | 0.25 mg/ml | 0.4 ml × 20 | Single-dose container |
Each customer may only be supplied with one pack of this medicine.
Review and guidance
When assessing which over-the-counter medicines should be included in the list, various factors must be considered, such as whether advice needs to be provided with the medicine and whether there is an urgent need for its use.
The list is scheduled to be reviewed twice a year, in spring and autumn.
Retail outlets with a valid exemption to sell certain over-the-counter medicines
Retail outlet and address | Valid until | Postcode and location |
|---|---|---|
Baulan, Baulu | 26 November 2028 | 311 Borgarnes (rural area) |
Bjarnabúð, Brautarhóll | 21 November 2025 | 806 Selfoss (rural area) |
Búðin Borgarfirði, Gamla Pósthúsinu | 28 October 2027 | 720 Borgarfjörður eystri |
Dalakofinn, Laugar | 6 November 2027 | 650 Laugar |
Gullfosskaffi, við Gullfoss | 6 November 2027 | 806 Selfoss (rural area) |
Hríseyjarbúðin, Norðurvegi 7-11 | 6 August 2027 | 630 Hrísey |
Kaffi Kjós, Meðalfellsvegur 50 | 11 April 2026 | 276 Mosfellsbær |
Kaupfjelagið, Sólvellir 25 | 8 October 2028 | 760 Breiðdalsvík |
Kjörbúðin Fáskrúðsfirði, Skólavegi 56 | 28 October 2027 | 750 Fáskrúðsfjörður |
Krambúðin á Flúðum, Grund | 20 September 2027 | 845 Flúðir |
Krambúðin á Laugarvatni, Dalbraut 8 | 20 September 2027 | 840 Laugarvatn |
KS Hofsósi, Suðurbraut 9 | 20 September 2027 | 565 Hofsós |
KS Ketilási, Ketilás | 28 October 2027 | 570 Fljót |
N1 Staðarskála | 20 September 2027 | 500 Staður |
Olís Varmahlíð | 20 September 2027 | 561 Varmahlíð |
Skjálfti, Breiðvangur | 12 July 2026 | 320 Reykholt |
Söluskálinn Freysnesi, Skaftafelli 2 | 28 August 2028 | 785 Öræfi |
The list of general retail outlets authorised to sell certain over-the-counter medicines under the exemption referred to above is exhaustive. Please note that this authorisation applies only to the purchase of certain over-the-counter medicines.