(LRC Revised)

Number 20 of 2007

PHARMACY ACT 2007

REVISED

Updated to 30 June 2026

Changes to legislation

as of 10 July 2026, there are changes to this Act which have not been implemented by the Revised Acts editorial team, see highlighted entries

here

. Note that some amendments may not be in force until commenced by a commencement order or other provision.

This Revised Act is an

administrative consolidation of the

Pharmacy Act 2007

. It is prepared by the

Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the

Law Reform

Commission Act 1975

(3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake

revision and consolidation of statute law.

All Acts up to and including the

Critical Infrastructure Act 2026

(10/2026), enacted 25 June 2026, and all statutory

instruments up to and including the

Regulation of Retail Pharmacy Businesses (Amendment) Regulations 2026

(S.I. No. 140 of 2026), made 20 April 2026, were considered in the preparation of

this Revised Act.

Disclaimer: While every care

has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act, the Law Reform Commission can

assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees, undertakings or warranties

concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature of the information

provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from any errors or

omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email to

revisedacts@lawreform.ie.

Number

20

of

2007

PHARMACY ACT 2007

REVISED

Updated to

30 June 2026

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

PART 1

Preliminary and General

Section

1. Short title

and commencement.

2.

Interpretation.

3.

Expenses.

4. Repeals and

revocations.

PART 2

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland

5. Dissolution

of old and establishment and membership of new Pharmaceutical Society of

Ireland.

6. Status of

the Society.

7. Functions

of the Society.

8. Additional

functions.

9. Ancillary

powers.

PART 3

The Council of the Society

10. The

Council of the Society.

11.

Functions of the Council and their delegation.

12. Codes of

conduct: reference to Competition Authority and Ministerial consent.

PART 4

Pharmaceutical Registration System

13.

Registers.

14.

Procedure and criteria for registration of pharmacists.

15.

Registration of persons registered or entitled to be registered under repealed

legislation.

16.

Qualifications for practice.

17.

Procedure and criteria for registration of retail pharmacy businesses.

18.

Regulation of retail pharmacy businesses.

19.

Inspection of premises of retail pharmacy business for the purposes of

section 18

.

20.

Certificate of registration.

21. Refusal

to register: notification and appeal.

21A.

Appeal against failure to make a determination. (

Repealed

)

21B.

Declarations by registered pharmacists in relation to certain matters in State

or other jurisdictions, etc.

21C.

Declarations by pharmacy owner.

22.

Maintenance and correction of registers.

23. Evidence

as to the registers.

23A.

Council may request certain information concerning registered pharmacists from

certain bodies in State or other jurisdictions.

24. Roll of

pharmacy students.

24A.

Visiting European Pharmacists (

Repealed

)

24B. Division of Register for visiting

European pharmacists

PART 5

Offences

25.

Interpretation of

Part 5

.

26. Conduct

of retail pharmacy business: offences.

27. Carrying

on of retail pharmacy business by natural person or partnership.

28. Carrying

on of retail pharmacy business by corporate body.

29. Carrying

on of retail pharmacy business by representative.

30. Saving

for temporary cover by pharmaceutical assistant.

31. Offence

of providing skilled pharmaceutical assistance by unregistered person.

32. Offence

of holding oneself out as registered pharmacist or registered druggist.

PART 6

Complaints, Inquiries and Discipline

33.

Interpretation of

Part 6

.

34.

Disciplinary committees.

35.

Complaints about registered pharmacists.

36.

Complaints about registered retail pharmacy businesses.

37.

Mediation of complaints.

38.

Reference of complaints to preliminary proceedings committee for advice.

39. Action

by Council on advice for no further action.

40.

Procedure following recommendation for, or decision to take, further

action.

41.

Notification of referral of complaint to committee of inquiry and of

hearing.

42.

Hearings: procedure.

43.

Hearings: evidence, powers, immunities, offences, etc.

44.

Procedure following withdrawal of complaint.

45. Interim

suspension of registration.

46.

Undertaking and consents.

47.

Committee’s inquiry report.

48. Action

by Council on report by disciplinary committee.

49.

Notification of imposition of disciplinary sanction.

50.

Disciplinary sanction to be confirmed by High Court.

51. High

Court’s power to cancel, etc.

, disciplinary sanction.

52.

Confirmation by High Court of disciplinary sanction.

53. Expert

evidence on poor professional performance and professional misconduct.

54. Finality

of decision of High Court.

55.

Notification of decision of High Court.

56.

Notification of sanctions, etc.

, to Minister.

57. Public

notice of sanctions, etc.

58. Absolute

privilege for disciplinary proceedings, etc.

59.

Cancellation of registration on request.

60.

Cancellation of registration on failure to pay fee.

61.

Restoration of registration.

62. Removal

of conditions imposed under this Part.

63.

Prohibition on certain economic relationships between pharmacists or pharmacies

and doctors.

64.

Prohibitions on carrying on retail pharmacy businesses and medical practices

together and on improper recommendations.

65. Saver

for certain property interests.

PART 7

Powers of Investigation

66.

Definitions.

67. Powers

of entry, search, seizure, etc.

68.

Samples.

69.

Evidence.

70.

Indemnification of authorised officers.

71.

Functions of Council on receipt of report of investigation by authorised

officer.

72.

Penalties for offences.

73. Special

measures registration having regard to Covid-19.

PART 8

Miscellaneous and General

73.

Restriction of Apothecaries’ Hall Act 1791.

74.

Amendment of Poisons Act 1961.

75.

Interpretation of references to pharmaceutical chemists, persons keeping open

shop, etc.

76. Codes,

rules and regulations.

77. Special

measures registration having regard to Covid-19.

78.

Admissibility of certain documents relating to proceedings in State or other

jurisdictions.

79. Power to

specify form of documents.

SCHEDULE 1

The Council and its members

and the society’s employees

SCHEDULE 2

Recognition of Professional

Qualifications in Pharmacy

SCHEDULE 3

Certificate stating results

of test, examination or analysis

SCHEDULE 4

Enactments Repealed

Acts Referred to

Animal Remedies

Acts 1993 and 2006

Apothecaries’

Hall Act 1791

31 Geo. 3.,

c.34

Bankruptcy Act 1988

1988, No. 27

Companies Act 1990

1990, No. 33

Companies Acts

1963 to 2005

Data Protection

Acts 1988 and 2003

Ethics in Public Office Act 1995

1995, No. 22

European Communities (Amendment) Act 1993

1993, No. 25

European Parliament Elections Act 1997

1997, No. 2

Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act 1976

1976, No. 11

Irish Medicines Board Act 1995

1995, No. 29

Irish Medicines

Board Acts 1995 and 2006

Medical Practitioners Act 1978

1978, No. 4

Misuse of Drugs Act 1977

1977, No. 12

Misuse of Drugs

Acts 1977 to 2006

Partnership Act

1890

53 & 54

Vic., c. 93

Pharmacy Act

(Ireland) 1875

38 & 39

Vic., c.57

Pharmacy Act,

(Ireland) Amendment Act 1890

53 & 54

Vic., c.48

Pharmacy Act 1951

1951, No. 30

Pharmacy Act 1962

1962, No. 14

Pharmacy Acts 1875

to 1977

Poisons Act 1961

1961, No. 12

Poisons Acts 1961

and 1977

Poisons and

Pharmacy Act 1908

8 Edw. 7., c.

55

Powers of Attorney Act 1996

1996, No. 12

Sale of Food and

Drugs Act 1875

38 & 39

Vic., c.63

Taxes Consolidation Act 1997

1997, No. 39

Trade Marks Act 1996

1996, No. 6

Number

20

of

2007

PHARMACY ACT 2007

REVISED

Updated to

30 June 2026

AN ACT TO MAKE NEW PROVISION

FOR THE REGULATION OF PHARMACY, INCLUDING PROVISION FOR THE DISSOLUTION OF THE

PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF IRELAND AND THE SETTING UP OF A NEW PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY

OF

IRELAND, FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT, CONSTITUTION AND FUNCTIONS OF THE NEW SOCIETY’S

COUNCIL, FOR A NEW SYSTEM OF REGISTRATION OF QUALIFIED PHARMACISTS, DRUGGISTS AND

PHARMACEUTICAL ASSISTANTS AND OF PHARMACIES, FOR THE CREATION OF CERTAIN OFFENCES

RELATING TO PHARMACY AND FOR THE SETTING UP OF NEW PROCEDURES TO ENSURE THAT PHARMACISTS

ARE AND CONTINUE TO BE FIT TO PRACTISE AND TO PREVENT PHARMACISTS, PHARMACY OWNERS

AND

MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS FROM ENTERING INTO CERTAIN INAPPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIPS; AND

TO

PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS. [21

st April

, 2007]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE

OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS

Annotations

Modifications (not

altering text)

C1

Functions transferred and references to “Minister” and

“Department of Finance” construed (6.07.2011) by

Ministers and

Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2011

(10/2011), ss. 7, 9, 11, 15, 20 and

sch. 2 part 1, commenced as per s. 1(2).

Department of

Public Expenditure and Reform

.

7

.— (1)

There shall stand established on the appointed day a Department of State to

be known, in the Irish language, as an Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus

Athchóirithe or, in the English language, as the Department of Public

Expenditure and Reform.

(2) The member of the

Government who is in charge of the Department of Public Expenditure and

Reform—

(

a

) shall be

known, in the Irish language, as an tAire Caiteachais Phoiblí agus

Athchóirithe or, in the English language, as the Minister for Public

Expenditure and Reform, and

(

b

) is, in

this Act, referred to as the “Minister”.

...

Transfer of certain other

functions to Minister

.

9

.— ...

(2) The functions

conferred on the Minister for Finance by or under any of the provisions

specified in Part 1 of Schedule 2 are transferred to the Minister.

...

Transfer of

administration and business of Department of Finance

.

11

.—

(1) The administration and business in connection with the performance of

the functions transferred by sections 8 and 9 are hereby transferred to the

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

(2) References to the

Department of Finance contained in any statute or instrument under a statute

in so far as they relate to the administration and business transferred by

subsection (1) shall, from the appointed day, be construed as references to

the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

...

Construction of

references

15

.— (1) References to

the Minister for Finance contained in any statute or instrument under a

statute in so far as they relate to any function transferred by this Act

shall, from the appointed day, be construed as references to the Minister.

...

Performance of certain

functions transferred to Minister by section 9.

20

.— (1) The Minister

shall not perform a function transferred by subsection (2) of section 9

without the consent of the Minister for Finance.

...

SCHEDULE 2

Functions Transferred To Minister

...

PART 1

Functions performable with consent of Minister for Finance

STATUTES

Number and

Year

Short

Title

Provision

(1)

(2)

(3)

...

...

...

No. 20 of

2007

Pharmacy

Act 2007

Paragraph

18(1) of Schedule 1

...

...

...

Editorial

Notes

E1

Registrar of Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland designated as

recipient of disclosures of relevant wrongdoings relating to the regulation

of pharmacists and pharmacies including the Society’s responsibility

for supervising compliance with Act (24.09.2020) by

Protected Disclosures

Act 2014 (Disclosure to Prescribed Persons) Order 2020

(S.I. No. 339

of 2014), art. 2 and sch. ref. no. 57.

E2

Work or activity which is carried on by a person, a necessary and

regular part of which requires the person to have access to, or contact

with, children and vulnerable persons pursuant to Act included in schedule 1

to

National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012

(47/2012) (29.04.2016) by

National Vetting Bureau (Children and

Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012

(47/2012), s. 2 and sch. 1, part 1 item

15(f) and part 2 item 12(f), S.I. No. 214 of 2016.

E3

Previous affecting provision: Registrar of Pharmaceutical Society

of Ireland designated as recipient of disclosures of relevant wrongdoings

relating to the regulation of pharmacists and pharmacies including the

Society’s responsibility for supervising compliance with Act

(23.07.2014) by

Protected Disclosures Act 2014 (Section 7(2)) Order

2014

(S.I. No. 339 of 2014), art. 2 and sch. ref. no. 55; revoked

(24.09.2020) by

Protected Disclosures Act 2014 (Disclosure to Prescribed

Persons) Order 2020

(S.I. No. 367 of 2020), art. 3(a).

Annotations

Modifications (not

altering text)

C1

Functions transferred and references to “Minister” and

“Department of Finance” construed (6.07.2011) by

Ministers and

Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2011

(10/2011), ss. 7, 9, 11, 15, 20 and

sch. 2 part 1, commenced as per s. 1(2).

Department of

Public Expenditure and Reform

.

7

.— (1)

There shall stand established on the appointed day a Department of State to

be known, in the Irish language, as an Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus

Athchóirithe or, in the English language, as the Department of Public

Expenditure and Reform.

(2) The member of the

Government who is in charge of the Department of Public Expenditure and

Reform—

(

a

) shall be

known, in the Irish language, as an tAire Caiteachais Phoiblí agus

Athchóirithe or, in the English language, as the Minister for Public

Expenditure and Reform, and

(

b

) is, in

this Act, referred to as the “Minister”.

...

Transfer of certain other

functions to Minister

.

9

.— ...

(2) The functions

conferred on the Minister for Finance by or under any of the provisions

specified in Part 1 of Schedule 2 are transferred to the Minister.

...

Transfer of

administration and business of Department of Finance

.

11

.—

(1) The administration and business in connection with the performance of

the functions transferred by sections 8 and 9 are hereby transferred to the

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

(2) References to the

Department of Finance contained in any statute or instrument under a statute

in so far as they relate to the administration and business transferred by

subsection (1) shall, from the appointed day, be construed as references to

the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

...

Construction of

references

15

.— (1) References to

the Minister for Finance contained in any statute or instrument under a

statute in so far as they relate to any function transferred by this Act

shall, from the appointed day, be construed as references to the Minister.

...

Performance of certain

functions transferred to Minister by section 9.

20

.— (1) The Minister

shall not perform a function transferred by subsection (2) of section 9

without the consent of the Minister for Finance.

...

SCHEDULE 2

Functions Transferred To Minister

...

PART 1

Functions performable with consent of Minister for Finance

STATUTES

Number and

Year

Short

Title

Provision

(1)

(2)

(3)

...

...

...

No. 20 of

2007

Pharmacy

Act 2007

Paragraph

18(1) of Schedule 1

...

...

...

Editorial

Notes

E1

Registrar of Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland designated as

recipient of disclosures of relevant wrongdoings relating to the regulation

of pharmacists and pharmacies including the Society’s responsibility

for supervising compliance with Act (24.09.2020) by

Protected Disclosures

Act 2014 (Disclosure to Prescribed Persons) Order 2020

(S.I. No. 339

of 2014), art. 2 and sch. ref. no. 57.

E2

Work or activity which is carried on by a person, a necessary and

regular part of which requires the person to have access to, or contact

with, children and vulnerable persons pursuant to Act included in schedule 1

to

National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012

(47/2012) (29.04.2016) by

National Vetting Bureau (Children and

Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012

(47/2012), s. 2 and sch. 1, part 1 item

15(f) and part 2 item 12(f), S.I. No. 214 of 2016.

E3

Previous affecting provision: Registrar of Pharmaceutical Society

of Ireland designated as recipient of disclosures of relevant wrongdoings

relating to the regulation of pharmacists and pharmacies including the

Society’s responsibility for supervising compliance with Act

(23.07.2014) by

Protected Disclosures Act 2014 (Section 7(2)) Order

2014

(S.I. No. 339 of 2014), art. 2 and sch. ref. no. 55; revoked

(24.09.2020) by

Protected Disclosures Act 2014 (Disclosure to Prescribed

Persons) Order 2020

(S.I. No. 367 of 2020), art. 3(a).

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

PART 1

Preliminary and General

Section

1. Short title

and commencement.

2.

Interpretation.

3.

Expenses.

4. Repeals and

revocations.

PART 2

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland

5. Dissolution

of old and establishment and membership of new Pharmaceutical Society of

Ireland.

6. Status of

the Society.

7. Functions

of the Society.

8. Additional

functions.

9. Ancillary

powers.

PART 3

The Council of the Society

10. The

Council of the Society.

11.

Functions of the Council and their delegation.

12. Codes of

conduct: reference to Competition Authority and Ministerial consent.

PART 4

Pharmaceutical Registration System

13.

Registers.

14.

Procedure and criteria for registration of pharmacists.

15.

Registration of persons registered or entitled to be registered under repealed

legislation.

16.

Qualifications for practice.

17.

Procedure and criteria for registration of retail pharmacy businesses.

18.

Regulation of retail pharmacy businesses.

19.

Inspection of premises of retail pharmacy business for the purposes of

section 18

.

20.

Certificate of registration.

21. Refusal

to register: notification and appeal.

21A.

Appeal against failure to make a determination. (

Repealed

)

21B.

Declarations by registered pharmacists in relation to certain matters in State

or other jurisdictions, etc.

21C.

Declarations by pharmacy owner.

22.

Maintenance and correction of registers.

23. Evidence

as to the registers.

23A.

Council may request certain information concerning registered pharmacists from

certain bodies in State or other jurisdictions.

24. Roll of

pharmacy students.

24A.

Visiting European Pharmacists (

Repealed

)

24B. Division of Register for visiting

European pharmacists

PART 5

Offences

25.

Interpretation of

Part 5

.

26. Conduct

of retail pharmacy business: offences.

27. Carrying

on of retail pharmacy business by natural person or partnership.

28. Carrying

on of retail pharmacy business by corporate body.

29. Carrying

on of retail pharmacy business by representative.

30. Saving

for temporary cover by pharmaceutical assistant.

31. Offence

of providing skilled pharmaceutical assistance by unregistered person.

32. Offence

of holding oneself out as registered pharmacist or registered druggist.

PART 6

Complaints, Inquiries and Discipline

33.

Interpretation of

Part 6

.

34.

Disciplinary committees.

35.

Complaints about registered pharmacists.

36.

Complaints about registered retail pharmacy businesses.

37.

Mediation of complaints.

38.

Reference of complaints to preliminary proceedings committee for advice.

39. Action

by Council on advice for no further action.

40.

Procedure following recommendation for, or decision to take, further

action.

41.

Notification of referral of complaint to committee of inquiry and of

hearing.

42.

Hearings: procedure.

43.

Hearings: evidence, powers, immunities, offences, etc.

44.

Procedure following withdrawal of complaint.

45. Interim

suspension of registration.

46.

Undertaking and consents.

47.

Committee’s inquiry report.

48. Action

by Council on report by disciplinary committee.

49.

Notification of imposition of disciplinary sanction.

50.

Disciplinary sanction to be confirmed by High Court.

51. High

Court’s power to cancel, etc.

, disciplinary sanction.

52.

Confirmation by High Court of disciplinary sanction.

53. Expert

evidence on poor professional performance and professional misconduct.

54. Finality

of decision of High Court.

55.

Notification of decision of High Court.

56.

Notification of sanctions, etc.

, to Minister.

57. Public

notice of sanctions, etc.

58. Absolute

privilege for disciplinary proceedings, etc.

59.

Cancellation of registration on request.

60.

Cancellation of registration on failure to pay fee.

61.

Restoration of registration.

62. Removal

of conditions imposed under this Part.

63.

Prohibition on certain economic relationships between pharmacists or pharmacies

and doctors.

64.

Prohibitions on carrying on retail pharmacy businesses and medical practices

together and on improper recommendations.

65. Saver

for certain property interests.

PART 7

Powers of Investigation

66.

Definitions.

67. Powers

of entry, search, seizure, etc.

68.

Samples.

69.

Evidence.

70.

Indemnification of authorised officers.

71.

Functions of Council on receipt of report of investigation by authorised

officer.

72.

Penalties for offences.

73. Special

measures registration having regard to Covid-19.

PART 8

Miscellaneous and General

73.

Restriction of Apothecaries’ Hall Act 1791.

74.

Amendment of Poisons Act 1961.

75.

Interpretation of references to pharmaceutical chemists, persons keeping open

shop, etc.

76. Codes,

rules and regulations.

77. Special

measures registration having regard to Covid-19.

78.

Admissibility of certain documents relating to proceedings in State or other

jurisdictions.

79. Power to

specify form of documents.

SCHEDULE 1

The Council and its members

and the society’s employees

SCHEDULE 2

Recognition of Professional

Qualifications in Pharmacy

SCHEDULE 3

Certificate stating results

of test, examination or analysis

SCHEDULE 4

Enactments Repealed

Number

20

of

2007