Russian government introduces rules for distance sales of medicinal products

The government introduced the rules for distance sales of medicines in order to eliminate the trading in counterfeit products. This was announced at a government meeting by the Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

“The medicines purchased online must be of high quality and safe. To avoid any uncontrolled selling via the internet and protect people from counterfeit products, we are introducing the rules for distance <…> retail sales,” he said.

The amendments to several laws regulating the distance retail sale of medicines were submitted today for discussion in the cabinet of ministers.

“It will be possible to sell (remotely) the medicines intended for medical and veterinary use. The online sales can include only over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, that are sold in regular retail chains without prescription. The online retail sales of prescription drugs, narcotic and psychotropic substances will be prohibited,” said the Prime Minister. He noted that online retail sales will be allowed for the pharmacies licensed for pharmaceutical activities. Pharmacy websites that violate these rules will be closed, “they will be blocked in accordance with the pretrial procedure and included in the register of resources that contain information prohibited for distribution,” he said.

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