Press Release: Pharmacies: infringement proceedings against Italy

The European Commission decided to formally request Italy to amend its legislation banning pharmacists from having more than one pharmacy and restricting the maximum number of pharmacies that may be owned by groups of pharmacists to four. In addition the four pharmacies must be located in the same province. According to the Commission, such constraints are in breach of Article 43 of the EC Treaty on freedom of establishment. The Commission’s request was in the form of a ‘reasoned opinion’, the second stage of the infringement proceedings provided for in Article 226 of the EC Treaty. If no satisfactory reply is received within two months, the Commission may refer the matter to the Court of Justice.