Medicines: permissions and operating records · France / Switzerland
Online pharmacy: operator and dispensing dossier
An online-medicine activity dossier starts with the physical pharmacy and responsible professional. France’s declaration framework differs from Switzerland’s conditional cantonal mail-order permission. Match operator identity, website, catalogue, prescription checks and delivery model to the relevant rules. Record material changes to the actual operation. Permission to run the activity, medicine advertising and general sales terms are separate records; a website alone does not establish lawful pharmacy operation.
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Which declaration or cantonal permission route applies?
France: L5125-36 provides prior ARS declaration and professional-order information. Switzerland: HMG Article 27 instead provides a conditional cantonal mail-order authorisation branch; the French declaration must not be treated as Swiss permission.
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Which operator and physical pharmacy support the online activity?
France: connect website, operator, pharmacist and physical pharmacy. Switzerland: identify the pharmacy and responsible person holding the relevant cantonal permission; a domain name or commercial company registration proves neither selling right.
Code de la santé publique : L5125-36, L5125-34DGCCRF internet medicinesLPTh / HMG / LATer : 27OMéd / VAM / OM : 55, 56
Which declaration or cantonal permission route applies?
France: L5125-36 provides prior ARS declaration and professional-order information. Switzerland: HMG Article 27 instead provides a conditional cantonal mail-order authorisation branch; the French declaration must not be treated as Swiss permission.
Code de la santé publique : L5125-36, L5125-34DGCCRF internet medicinesLPTh / HMG / LATer : 27OMéd / VAM / OM : 55, 56
Pharmacy, website and dispensing responsibility matrix
Synthetic example: fictional records. Pharmacy, website and dispensing responsibility matrix.
Synthetic example: fictional records · Pharmacy, website and dispensing responsibility matrix
- Jurisdiction
- France
- Pharmacy and professional
- Pharmacy F1, professional P1
- Site and permission route
- Domain S1, record D1
- Catalogue and control
- Products C1, process Q1
- Delivery and changes
- Organisation L1, change M1
Permission to run the activity, medicine advertising and general sales terms are separate records; a website alone does not establish lawful pharmacy operation.
Which medicines belong in the permitted catalogue?
France: L5125-34 limits online sales to medicines not requiring mandatory prescription. Switzerland: the mail-order prescription safeguard is not removed merely because a medicine is ordinarily nonprescription; assess the actual permitted catalogue and recipients.
Code de la santé publique : L5125-36, L5125-34DGCCRF internet medicinesLPTh / HMG / LATer : 27OMéd / VAM / OM : 55, 56
Preparation reference: Pharmacy, website and dispensing responsibility matrix
| Preparation question | Point to verify |
|---|---|
| Which operator and physical pharmacy support the online activity? | France: connect website, operator, pharmacist and physical pharmacy. Switzerland: identify the pharmacy and responsible person holding the relevant cantonal permission; a domain name or commercial company registration proves neither selling right. |
| Which declaration or cantonal permission route applies? | France: L5125-36 provides prior ARS declaration and professional-order information. Switzerland: HMG Article 27 instead provides a conditional cantonal mail-order authorisation branch; the French declaration must not be treated as Swiss permission. |
| Which medicines belong in the permitted catalogue? | France: L5125-34 limits online sales to medicines not requiring mandatory prescription. Switzerland: the mail-order prescription safeguard is not removed merely because a medicine is ordinarily nonprescription; assess the actual permitted catalogue and recipients. |
| How are professional responsibility and dispensing checks organised? | France: document pharmacist involvement, order checks and advice procedures. Switzerland: VAM Article 55 addresses the quality system, prescription checks and advice; this preparation record does not certify dispensing quality or replace professional assessment. |
Code de la santé publique : L5125-36, L5125-34DGCCRF internet medicinesLPTh / HMG / LATer : 27OMéd / VAM / OM : 55, 56
How are professional responsibility and dispensing checks organised?
France: document pharmacist involvement, order checks and advice procedures. Switzerland: VAM Article 55 addresses the quality system, prescription checks and advice; this preparation record does not certify dispensing quality or replace professional assessment.
Code de la santé publique : L5125-36, L5125-34DGCCRF internet medicinesLPTh / HMG / LATer : 27OMéd / VAM / OM : 55, 56
What identity and official-register evidence must match the website?
France: reconcile displayed operator and pharmacy details with verifiable professional records. Switzerland: compare identity and the shared cantonal mail-order list under VAM Article 56; a logo alone does not establish authentic permission.
Code de la santé publique : L5125-36, L5125-34DGCCRF internet medicinesLPTh / HMG / LATer : 27OMéd / VAM / OM : 55, 56
Which official provision helps explain this situation?
An online-medicine activity dossier starts with the physical pharmacy and responsible professional. France’s declaration framework differs from Switzerland’s conditional cantonal mail-order permission. Match operator identity, website, catalogue, prescription checks and delivery model to the relevant rules. Record material changes to the actual operation. Permission to run the activity, medicine advertising and general sales terms are separate records; a website alone does not establish lawful pharmacy operation.
Which prescription, delivery and territory conditions affect the model?
France: record storage, delivery and destination conditions for the actual sales. Switzerland: connect transport and recipient safeguards with the permission; neither domestic operating right establishes another country’s import rules automatically.
Code de la santé publique : L5125-36, L5125-34DGCCRF internet medicinesLPTh / HMG / LATer : 27OMéd / VAM / OM : 55, 56
What material site or establishment change requires examination?
France: retain changes to website, operator, pharmacy and catalogue for procedure-specific checking. Switzerland: compare changes with the cantonal operating and mail-order scope; a website update does not prove all permission requirements were addressed.
Code de la santé publique : L5125-36, L5125-34DGCCRF internet medicinesLPTh / HMG / LATer : 27OMéd / VAM / OM : 55, 56
Why must operating permission, advertising and sales terms be checked separately?
France: online-activity declaration, advertising review and commercial terms remain distinct. Switzerland: mail-order authorisation similarly does not approve every advertising claim; keep operator permissions and campaign evidence connected without merging their decisions.
Code de la santé publique : L5125-36, L5125-34DGCCRF internet medicinesLPTh / HMG / LATer : 27OMéd / VAM / OM : 55, 56
Which official references should you consult?
- Code de la santé publique : L5125-36, L5125-34www.legifrance.gouv.fr
- DGCCRF internet medicineswww.economie.gouv.fr
- LPTh / HMG / LATer : 27www.fedlex.admin.ch
- OMéd / VAM / OM : 55, 56www.fedlex.admin.ch
Texts cited last checked: 3 November 2026
What other questions arise in this file?
Which declaration or cantonal permission route applies?
France: L5125-36 provides prior ARS declaration and professional-order information. Switzerland: HMG Article 27 instead provides a conditional cantonal mail-order authorisation branch; the French declaration must not be treated as Swiss permission.
Code de la santé publique : L5125-36, L5125-34DGCCRF internet medicinesLPTh / HMG / LATer : 27OMéd / VAM / OM : 55, 56
How are professional responsibility and dispensing checks organised?
France: document pharmacist involvement, order checks and advice procedures. Switzerland: VAM Article 55 addresses the quality system, prescription checks and advice; this preparation record does not certify dispensing quality or replace professional assessment.
Code de la santé publique : L5125-36, L5125-34DGCCRF internet medicinesLPTh / HMG / LATer : 27OMéd / VAM / OM : 55, 56
Which prescription, delivery and territory conditions affect the model?
France: record storage, delivery and destination conditions for the actual sales. Switzerland: connect transport and recipient safeguards with the permission; neither domestic operating right establishes another country’s import rules automatically.
Code de la santé publique : L5125-36, L5125-34DGCCRF internet medicinesLPTh / HMG / LATer : 27OMéd / VAM / OM : 55, 56
Why must operating permission, advertising and sales terms be checked separately?
France: online-activity declaration, advertising review and commercial terms remain distinct. Switzerland: mail-order authorisation similarly does not approve every advertising claim; keep operator permissions and campaign evidence connected without merging their decisions.
Code de la santé publique : L5125-36, L5125-34DGCCRF internet medicinesLPTh / HMG / LATer : 27OMéd / VAM / OM : 55, 56