With Europeans increasingly buying medicines online, how can they be sure that an online pharmacy is authentic and safe?
The European Union has implemented a Regulation under the Falsified Medicinal Products Directive (2001/62/EU) which sets out the design for a common logo for online pharmacies, and the technical requirements for ensuring its authenticity. This logo has to be displayed on the website of all legitimate medicine retailers by the second half of 2015.
How does the logo look like?
How does it work?
First, look for the logo on the website through which you are considering buying medicines and click on it. You should be taken to the national regulatory authority website, which lists all legally operating online pharmacies and other legally authorised retailers of medicines. Check if that pharmacy is listed. Then continue with your purchase. If not listed, do not buy from that website. Use one of the legitimate medicine retailers listed on your national regulatory authority website.