Sale of medicine in the Internet is permitted

Starting from October 14, 2020, remote retail sale of medicine becomes legal. It provides new possibilities for business.

The Law of Ukraine No. 904-IX of 17.09.2020 comes into effect in three months (January 14, 2021). Starting from this date, the remote retail sale of medicine will be legal. This Law introduced changes into article 19 of the Law of Ukraine No. 123/96-ВР of 04.04.1996.

The Law stipulates the list of main requirements to the remote sale of medicine for the pharmacies, as well as to storing, administration and delivery of medicine.

Trading in the Internet is allowed for the business entities possessing the license for retail trade. The additional license is not required. They are not only permitted to sell medicine, but to deliver them to end consumers. The sellers have the right to deliver the medicine to the buyer both using their delivery agents and involving delivery services or postal services providers pursuant to the agreements, who shall comply with the requirements to the medicine storage.

However, the seller carrying out electronic retail trade shall be responsible to the consumer for ensuring the quality of the medicine and for compliance with the storing conditions of the respective medicine defined by the manufacturer. Delivery services providers, which deliver medicine pursuant to the agreements, shall be subject to administrative and criminal liability for the violation of the set requirements to the medicine delivery.

Starting from January 14, 2021 pharmacies will be able to sell medicine via their web sites given that: they are entered in the List of organizations having the right for electronic retail trade of medicine; information confirming that certain pharmacy (business entity) has the right for electronic retail trade of medicine shall be included in the License register; the web-site shall include the information that will prove for the buyer that the respective pharmacy has the right for the internet-trade;  the option of online consultation with the pharmacist (in case of need) shall be provided; the price of the delivery shall be indicated. It is prohibited to sell medicine with narcotic compounds, psychotropic substances, precursors, superpotent substances, poisonous substances, radioactive and immunobiological products, the sale of which is also prohibited in standard pharmacies.