Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) medicine approved for sale in retail outlets

News Category: Regulatory news

Date: 04/07/2014

The HPRA reclassifies NRT to general sale from pharmacy only status

The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), formerly the Irish Medicines Board, today announced it is authorising a nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) product to be sold in general retail and grocery outlets. NRT products are currently only available in pharmacies and the HPRA’s decision to switch Nicorette™ NRT from ‘pharmacy only status’ to ‘general sale status’, follows an application from the authorisation holder.

This will be the first NRT product range available for general sale in Ireland, and will result in these products being more widely accessible by people wishing to seek assistance to reduce or quit smoking. It is anticipated that the products within this range will become available on general sale in retailers in Ireland from later this year (late August or early September).

The HPRA’s decision follows a detailed assessment of the safety and efficacy of several NRT products which have been available in non-pharmacy outlets in other EU countries for some time.

HPRA NRT Press Release

FOR INFORMATION:

Siobhan Molloy / Orla Molloy: 086 817 5066 / 087 770 5108
Weber Shandwick: 01 679 8600


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