In a bid to streamline regulation and achieve further compliance with the regulatory requirements all drug shops will be required to comply with Regulation 9 of the National Drug Policy & Authority (Licencing) Regulations, S.I No. 35 of 2014, with effect from 1st January 2019.
Any drug shop located at a distance of less than one and a half kilometers (1.5km) from a retail pharmacy shall be required to EITHER;
apply for a licence to operate a pharmacy; in which case such application must meet all the requirements for the licencing of a pharmacy, OR Relocate the business to another underserved area.
A drug shop that wishes to relocate to other premises shall obtain the authorization of the Authority prior to relocation.
