Japan ministry appeals against lifting of Internet medicines sales ban

Published: 21-May-2012
Regulatory

Says it is dangerous to sell medicines without consulting a pharmacist


Japan’s health ministry is appealing to the country’s Supreme Court to overturn a ruling allowing sales of over-the-counter medications via the Internet.

The appeal was filed 9 May after the Tokyo High Court decided a ban imposed by the ministry of health, labour and welfare on Internet sales was unconstitutional.

The ministry had argued that it would be dangerous to sell medicines without consulting a pharmacist. A suicidal person could, it claimed, purchase sufficient drugs to kill him/herself.

‘We believe it is very important that medicines are sold after face-to-face consultations,’ said Rentaro Tanabe, of the ministry's pharmaceutical and food safety bureau. ‘There have been lots of problems in other countries caused by medicines sold over the Internet.’

Genri Goto, chief executive of online medicine firm Kenko.com, said: ‘The ordinance is ridiculous. We sell our medicines at a similar price, but it is much more convenient for people to have the drugs delivered to their door by post.’

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