As the new law on online drug sale of medicinal products comes into effect, stricter supervision and administration of online medicinal products selling will be conducted.
《Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Online Drug Sales》formulated by State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) will be enforced from December 1, 2022. The new law consists of six chapters and 42 articles, which is aimed to regulate the online sale of medicinal products and the services on platforms for online trading of medicinal products, and to ensure the safety of public medication.
According to the new law, pharmaceutical enterprises which sell medicinal products online shall be medicinal products marketing license holders or medicinal products dealers that have the ability to ensure the safety of medicinal products sold online. Those enterprises shall carry out business by the approved business model and within the approved business scope. The new law also stipulates the inhibition of vaccines, blood products, narcotic drugs, psychotropic drugs, medical toxic drugs, radioactive drugs, pharmaceutical precursor chemicals, and other medicinal products subject to special administration.
On the aspect of prescription medicinal products, the new law stipulates the implementation of real-name system in online retails of prescription medicinal products, the verification and allocation of prescription in strict accordance with the relevant provisions, and the separate display of prescription medicinal products and non-prescription medicinal products. Online medicinal products retailers shall not publicly display information such as packaging and labels of prescription medicinal products on the main page or home page. Before the passing of prescription, information such as instructions shall not be displayed, and services related to prescription medicinal products purchase shall not be provided.
NMPA shall be in charge of the supervision and administration of online medicinal products selling. Medical products administrative departments at the provincial level and districted city level shall be responsible for the supervision and administration of online medicinal products selling within administrative regions respectively.