Buying and selling medicines online

Shopping online is easy and convenient. But if you are considering buying medicines online, it is a good idea to be cautious. Many online shops that sell medicines are entirely legitimate, but unfortunately, some online shops sell medicines illegally.

There is no control on the manufacturing processes or sale of illegal medicines. This means there is no way of knowing what the medicine contains and how it works. If you buy illegal medicines, at best you risk spending money on something that might have no effect, at worst the medicine has serious side effects or may even be fatal. 

Fortunately, it is easy to check if an online shop sells medicines legally:

Look for the green or the blue EU logo

First of all, it is important to check that the online shop that you intend to buy medicine from has been authorised by an EU authority and thus has permission to sell medicines for humans or animals. You can identify authorised online shops by the green or the blue EU logo.

If buying medicines for humans, look for the green EU logo

The green EU logo certifies that the online shop has been authorised by an EU authority to sell medicines for humans. The green EU logo must be displayed by all online shops authorised to sell medicines for humans. If there is no logo, you can be almost certain that the online shop is selling medicines illegally or is located outside the EU, and that is problematic because it is illegal to have medicines sent to you in Denmark from non-EU/EEA countries.

1. When visiting an online shop that sells medicines for humans, look for the green EU logo.
2. When you click on the green logo, check if you are redirected to a webpage that shows you one of the Danish Medicines Agency’s (or other EU authority's) lists of pharmacies or authorised online shops (retailers) permitted to distribute medicines for humans.
3. Check that the online shop and website address are on the list.
4. If the pharmacy/online shop is listed, then the seller has been authorised by an authority.
5. Do not buy medicines for humans from websites without the green EU logo.

If buying veterinary medicines, look for the blue EU logo

The blue EU logo certifies that the online shop has been authorised by an EU authority to sell veterinary medicines. The blue EU logo must be displayed by all online shops authorised to sell veterinary medicines. If there is no logo, you can be almost certain that the online shop is selling medicines illegally or is located outside the EU, and that is problematic since it is illegal for you to have medicines sent to you in Denmark from non-EU/EEA countries.

1. When visiting an online shop that sells veterinary medicines, look for the blue EU logo.
2. When you click on the blue logo, check if you are redirected to a webpage that shows you one of the Danish Medicines Agency’s (or other EU authority's) lists of pharmacies or authorised online shops (retailers) permitted to distribute veterinary medicines.
3. Check that the online shop and website address are on the list.
4. If the pharmacy/online shop is on the list, then the distributor has been authorised by an authority.
5. Do not buy veterinary medicines from websites without the blue EU logo.

Please also see the rules on importing medicines from abroad (link: Medicines imported from abroad (laegemiddelstyrelsen.dk))