EU Online Pharmacies Will Display Safety Logo

By the end of 2015, online pharmacies that do business in the European Union will be able to display a logo that identifies them as a safe online pharmacy in compliance with all local regulations.

By the end of 2015, online pharmacies that do business in the European Union will be able to display a logo that identifies them as a safe online pharmacy in compliance with all local regulations.  This effort by the European Commission aims to protect patients by providing an easy way to identify legitimate online pharmacies.

The European Commission has created a new logo as a means by which consumers can easily find and identify authorized online pharmacies, according to the European Medicines Agency (EMA).  Regulators in each EU nation will have the responsibility for authorizing valid online pharmacies that do business with their citizens.

A press release from the European Union, maintains that consumers should start seeing the new pharmacy logo on legitimate pharmacy websites by late 2015.

The EU press release explains how easy it will be to identify a safe online pharmacy: “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 that the 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’s website.”

The logo’s design is comprised of a flag representing the EU country where the consumer is shopping. The accompanying text will offer explanation in the language of the consumer as well, reports the press release.