Over-the-counter medicines

Over-the-counter drugs may be sold outside pharmacies. Drugs are considered over-the-counter if they do not require a prescription and are not available at pharmacies.

Any retail business wishing to place medicines on the market must notify the competent supervisory authority of this activity in advance in accordance with Section 67 of the German Medicines Act (AMG). This also applies, for example, to supermarkets and drugstores. Subsequent changes must also be notified.

Information on handling medicinal products:

• Medicinal products must be stored in accordance with regulations. The manufacturer's storage instructions must be observed.
• The commonly offered over-the-counter medicines are to be stored at room temperature. This corresponds to a temperature of 15-25 degrees Celsius. Compliance with the temperature must be documented.
• The expiration date must be checked regularly. Medicinal products with an expired expiry date must be removed from circulation immediately so that access by customers is no longer possible.
• Medicines must be stored separately from perishable goods.
• The storage place must be dry. Storage on the floor is not permitted.

Requirements

According to Section 50 of the German Medicines Act, the prerequisite for trading in over-the-counter medicinal products outside pharmacies is proof of the required expertise.

However, expert knowledge is not required for anyone who places finished medicinal products on the market in the retail trade which

• may be supplied in tourist traffic
• are intended for the prevention of pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases in humans,
• disinfectants intended exclusively for external use, or
• oxygen

are.

Certificates of the following degrees are considered proof of expertise:

• Pharmacist
• druggist
• Pharmacy assistant
• Pharmacy engineer
• Pharmacy assistant
• Pharmaceutical-technical:r Assistant:in
• Pharmaceutical-commercial:r employee:r
• Certificate of competence with successful examination before the Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

In order to monitor the proper marketing of the medicinal products and to be available to customers for advice, at least one competent person must be present during the opening hours of the establishment. If this cannot be ensured, the medicinal products may not be sold for the duration of the absence of the competent person.