What applies in principle

If you want to purchase medicines via the Internet (i.e. via a web shop), the following applies in Austria:

• Only medicines authorised and available without prescription (over-the-counter) may be sold on line
• The supplier (i.e. the online pharmacy or authorised distributor) must be registered for this purpose – they must display a so-called security logo.

The security logos

• There is a green logo for over-the-counter human medicines (i.e. for humans).
• There is a blue logo for over-the-counter veterinary medicines (i.e. medicines for animals).
• The logo contains a flag: this flag shows the country in which the online pharmacy is registered.
• If you click on this logo, you will be taken to an official list where you can check whether the online pharmacy is actually registered and legal.

Before ordering medicines online, pay attention to the following points:

• Look for the green/blue security logo.
• Check the flag in the logo: Austrian suppliers should have the Austrian flag symbol.
• If possible, click on the logo and check the list to see if the supplier is actually registered. Only if this is correct is it advisable to make a purchase.

There are many illegal suppliers on the internet who sell counterfeit medicines. This means that:

• these medicines may contain no active ingredients or may contain the wrong active ingredient.
• the active ingredient may be in such small quantities that it has no effect – or too high that it is dangerous.
• In addition, such counterfeits may contain harmful substances or impurities, which is very risky for health – for both humans and animals.

For medicines for humans (human medicines)

• According to the Medicines Act (AMG), medicines may normally only be dispensed to patients in pharmacies.
• Mail order (online sales) is generally prohibited (Section 59 (8) AMG).
• Exception: authorised and non-prescription the medicines may be dispensed via registered mail-order pharmacies (Section 59 (9) AMG).
• Any pharmacy that wishes to sell such medicines online must report this to the BASG and register. Only then will it be included in the list of approved mail-order pharmacies.

For medicines for animals (veterinary medicines)

• Since 2 January 2024, the Veterinary Medicines Act (TAMG) has been in force in Austria, implementing EU Regulation 2019/6 and supplementary provisions.
• Certain entities (e.g. public pharmacies, veterinarians, certain retailers) may also sell veterinary medicines by mail order, but only under certain conditions (§49 and §50 TAMG).
• If a public pharmacy is already registered as a mail-order pharmacy, it may automatically offer veterinary medicinal products by mail order. Other entities must register separately.
• On 1 March 2025, a regulation on the mail-order sale of veterinary medicinal products came into force, which sets out additional requirements. Here too, compliance is monitored by the BASG.

• List of Austrian mail-order pharmacies for human and veterinary medicines
• List of Austrian dispensing organisations for veterinary medicines
• Information from the EMA on the distance selling of medicinal products for human use
• Information from the EMA on the distance selling of veterinary medicinal products
• FAQ on webshops for human and veterinary medicinal products
• Information brochure of the European Commission on distance selling pharmacies