C1000 first Dutch supermarket to offer OTC-medicines

In the Netherlands OTC medicines can only be purchased through drugstores or pharmacies. Only a retailer that offers the presence of a licensed pharmacist or licensed drugstore professional can sell these type of products.

On the 1st of July 2007 a new law will come into effect that will change this though. From then on, Dutch supermarkets and hypermarkets are allowed to offer a selection of Over The Counter medicines without the need for a licensed pharmacist.

C1000 (part of Ahold NV) is the first supermarket that has announced that it will start to sell OTC medicine. The supermarket has already experimented over the last couple of months in a few outlets with a licensed pharmacist present and will start sales of OTC products on the 1st of July. The product range will consist of 30 different products such as stomach, fever, flu and muscle medicines. Well known brand names that will be offered include Arniflor, Finimal, Advil, Rennie and Sperti.