Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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134. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the European Court of Justice ruling that a fixed price system for the sale by pharmacies of prescription only medicinal products for human use is incompatible with the free movement of goods; and if there are any implications for pharmacies here [32257/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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This case concerns a challenge to the German system of fixed pricing for prescription medicines, which I am advised involves a standard minimum price. The German court requested a preliminary ruling from the European Court of Justice, which determined that the Government-regulated minimum pricing system interfered with free trade, as it provided more of an obstacle to pharmacies outside Germany than to those within Germany.

Ireland does not use a fixed minimum pricing structure for prescription medicines and, in line with a previous European Court of Justice ruling, does not permit mail order pharmacy sales. Accordingly, the Court's ruling does not appear to hold direct relevance for our community drug schemes. However, my officials will continue to monitor the issue.