Sale of medicines online
27.2.2019
Question for written answer E-001056-19
to the Commission
Rule 130
Lampros Fountoulis (NI)
The National Organisation for Medicines (EOF) yesterday issued an announcement about 29 products which are advertised and marketed online as formulations for treating a number of conditions such as joint pain, cardiovascular diseases, psoriasis, haemorrhoids, diabetes, fungal growths in the extremities or even alcoholism and which it has not evaluated in respect of claims that they are safe and effective. After issuing a reminder that the sale of medicines online is not permitted under any circumstances, the EOF draws the attention of consumers to the following cases when making purchases online: the existence of websites where the consumer is required to send a completed contact form or to contact a call centre without knowing the full details of the company responsible for marketing the product; the product description and posted comments are provided in Greek, but they have clearly been automatically translated, as they contain many errors of syntax and spelling mistakes[1].
Will the Commission say:
- 1.Will strict rules and conditions be adopted precisely defining the conditions for the sale of medicines online?
- 2.Is it prepared to regulate this area so as to achieve a relatively standardised approach in addressing the online sale of dangerous medicines throughout Europe?
- [1] http://www.kathimerini.gr/1005195/article/epikairothta/ellada/kampanaki-eof-gia-ta-e-farmaka