EU member states' pharmacy policy leads to ECJ showdown

The tensions between European Union members states over the liberalization of pharmaceutical distribution systems are the topic of a special report by the German pharmacy trade publication APOTHEKE ADHOC. Patrick Hollstein, the editor in chief for the project, explains that, "in several cases, the European Commission and national courts have appealed to the European Court of Justice for judgement on national pharmacy law. Within the coming months, EU judges will be occupied with German, Italian and Spanish pharmacy law" (Marketletter July 21).

The publication, titled Showdown in Luxembourg: Pharmacies in the sight of the EU, also examines ongoing cases against national authorities in Austria, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Portugal and Spain. The report's authors argue that the demands of the internal European market for cross-border harmonization of rules and open access to previously-closed markets for major drug distribution firms will undermine the professional standards of the pharmacy business.

Mr Hollstein argues that decisions on the future of drug distribution are not being determined by pharmacists or consumers, but by "interest groups, ambitious lawyers and laissez-faire politicians." The report includes a timetable of the infringement proceedings by the EC against member states, a country-by-country guide to the issues raised. It also includes a series of interviews with regulators, politicians and a member of the Pharmaceutical Group of the EU. There is also a summary of all the European nations' pharmacy systems, including some outside the Union.