Import and sale of medicines for animals

Sale of veterinary medicines

Veterinary medicinal products may only be sold through pharmacies or wholesalers that meet the conditions for direct distribution. Veterinarians and pet shops are generally not permitted to sell medicinal products. For more details, see the relevant provisions in the Medicinal Products Act § 16 and § 17.

Import of veterinary medicines

Import of veterinary medicinal products require a wholesale license or a manufacturing license issued by the Norwegian Directorate of Medical Products. Private individuals are not allowed to bring veterinary medicinal products into Norway, whether by shipping or personal travel.

Neither veterinarians nor animal owners are permitted to import or bring in prescription medicines for use in animals. The rule that allows individuals to import medicines for "personal use" does not apply to "one’s own animals," but only to medicines intended for human use.

Exemption for veterinarians

Veterinarians may charge for medicinal products used in treating animals at the clinic. The price of the medicinal product may reflect associated costs, such as procurement, storage, and wastage, but the veterinarian should not profit from the sale of medicinal products. See the relevant provisions in the Medicinal Products Act, § 16 and § 17.

Veterinarians may charge for medicines dispensed for use until the animal owner can obtain the necessary medicine from a pharmacy, cf. Medicinal Products Act § 17.

The requirement for certified treatment against Echinococcus multilocularis (fox tapeworm) in connection with international travel makes it reasonable for small animal clinics to stock relevant medicinal products to carry out the treatment at the clinic. Treatment at the clinic due to certification requirements falls under the definition of when one may claim reimbursement for medicine expenses. The Directorate recommends that veterinarians do not perform certified treatments using medicines brought in by the animal owner. In the case of certified treatment, the veterinarian should ensure that the medicine used has been purchased from an approved retailer and stored in accordance with the applicable storage conditions.

If other parasite treatments are needed, a prescription should be written for the animal owner. The need for parasite treatment is rarely so urgent that it must be carried out at the clinic.

Exemption for Pet Shops

Pet shops may sell certain medicinal products for aquarium fish.

Medicine Prices

Veterinary medicinal products and over-the-counter medicines are not price-regulated in Norway.

Generic substitution at pharmacies

The generic substitution scheme in pharmacies does not apply to veterinary medicinal products, even when human medicines are prescribed for animals. Substitution at a pharmacy can only occur with the agreement of the veterinarian who issued the prescription. If the pharmacy does not have the prescribed product but has an equivalent, the pharmacy must consult the veterinarian before dispensing.