Register for the Distance Selling logo

AI Summary

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued updated guidance for online medicine retailers following the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union. Under the Northern Ireland Protocol, sellers based in Northern Ireland must still register with the MHRA and display the Distance Selling Logo on every webpage offering medicines. Conversely, retailers in Great Britain are no longer required to use this logo, though the MHRA is exploring future alternatives. This regulatory framework is governed by The Human Medicines Regulations 2012 and the Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002. To comply, Northern Ireland-based companies must register via the Process Licensing Portal, a process that can take up to 90 working days. Main violations include selling medicines online without proper registration, failing to display the mandatory logo, or supplying products not authorized in the destination country. Required actions for legitimate operation include sourcing medicines only from licensed distributors, reporting suspected falsified medicines immediately, and adhering to the specific pharmaceutical laws of the destination European Economic Area country. The MHRA actively monitors compliance and conducts enforcement activities to disrupt illegitimate online retailers to ensure public safety.