Parallel Imports and Exports of Medicines: How They Work in the UK

Parallel trade is one of the less understood parts of the medicines market. Put simply, it means buying a medicine that is authorised in one country and selling it in another where the price is different, within a legal framework that protects quality and safety.

Parallel import into the UK

A parallel-imported medicine must hold its own UK licence, known as a PL(PI). The importer has to show that the product is essentially the same as the UK version, and it is usually repackaged or relabelled in English with UK-compliant information.

Exporting from the UK

Licensed wholesalers can also export medicines to buyers abroad, subject to the rules of both the UK and the destination country. Some medicines cannot be exported at all because they are on the Department of Health and Social Care list of products that must not be exported or hoarded while UK supply is under pressure.

Why parallel trade matters

• It can widen access to medicines for buyers in markets with tight supply.

• It creates price competition between markets.

• It demands strict control, because products cross borders and change hands more often.

What buyers should check

Ask whether the product holds the right authorisation for your market, how it has been repackaged, and whether the supplier can provide full traceability back to the original manufacturer. If you are a clinic or chemist outside the UK interested in sourcing UK-supplied medicines legally, Acorn Pharmaceuticals can talk you through what is possible for your country.