Three-Quarters of EU States Ban Mail-Order Sales of Prescription Drugs
A survey by ABDA reveals that three-quarters of EU member states prohibit mail-order sales of prescription medicines. Only in seven countries, including Germany, is such trade permitted, often with strict conditions.
Berlin – A significant majority of European Union member states, precisely three-quarters, have banned the mail-order sale of prescription medicines, according to an analysis by ABDA, the German Association of Pharmacists.
Out of the 28 EU member states, only seven permit this form of commerce, and often under highly restrictive conditions. These countries include Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Great Britain. The remaining 21 states have chosen to prohibit it.
This stance reflects nations exercising their right to set national frameworks for their healthcare systems. Previous rulings by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in 2003 established that while EU states could permit mail-order sales of non-prescription drugs, they were not compelled to allow it for prescription-only medications. This principle was reinforced by the EU Directive 2011/62 aimed at combating counterfeit medicines.
ABDA President Friedemann Schmidt urged German policymakers to act, stating, "German politics is now urgently called upon: the legislator must restore its scope for action to guarantee patients functioning drug supply in the future. The ban on mail-order sales of prescription medicines in Germany would be permissible under European law. We should not risk further pharmacy closures. The density of pharmacies in Germany is already below the European average."