A polished website is not proof that an online pharmacy is legal. In the EU, authorization is checked through national registers and the common EU logo for legally operating online medicine retailers.
Important: This article is general educational information. It does not recommend a product, diagnose a condition or replace a doctor or pharmacist. Availability, authorization and prescription rules differ by country. Only obtain medicines through a licensed, verifiable provider.
Rules for customers in Austria
In Austria, online distance selling is limited to non-prescription medicines that are authorized in Austria and supplied by a registered pharmacy. Prescription medicines may not be sold or shipped online to customers in Austria, including from another EEA country. Check the retailer in the BASG register and verify the EU safety logo before proceeding.
Click the logo—do not only look at it
The common logo must link to the retailer’s entry on the relevant national authority website. A copied image of the logo is not enough. The country flag in the logo should match the country where the retailer is registered.
Confirm what the retailer may legally sell
Rules for online sale of prescription medicines differ between EU countries. The national register should indicate whether the retailer is authorized and what categories it may supply.
Stop when verification fails
If the site is absent from the national register, the logo does not link correctly, or prescription requirements are bypassed, do not continue. Report suspicious retailers to the relevant authority.
Product verification checklist
- Common EU logo is present where required
- Logo links directly to a national authority register
- Retailer name and web address match the register
- Prescription process follows destination-country rules
- Contact, pharmacist and business details are verifiable
Frequently asked questions
Does an EU flag prove a pharmacy is legal?
No. The genuine common logo uses the flag of the specific registration country and must link to the national register.
Are prescription rules identical across the EU?
No. Member States set their own conditions for online prescription-medicine sales.
Official sources and further reading
- BASG: Medicines on the internet and distance selling in Austria
- BASG: Register of authorized Austrian distance-selling pharmacies
- Your Europe: Buying medicines online
- EMA: Falsified medicines overview
Last reviewed: September 2026. Product authorizations and national rules can change; re-check official sources before publication or purchase.