The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 280 No 7489 p171
16 February 2008

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Challenge to restricted ownership

Germany has been asked by the European Commission to justify its ban on corporate ownership of pharmacies. A spokeswoman for EU internal market commissioner Charlie McCreevy said that the aim of protecting public health can be achieved by requiring a pharmacist to be present in each pharmacy, rather than by restricting ownership to pharmacists. Germany has until the end of April to justify its position, after which it might face competition proceedings in the European Court.