What a Wholesale Dealer's Licence Means – and Why Buyers Should Check It
Every medicine that reaches a pharmacy shelf or clinic fridge in the UK has passed through a chain of businesses. The licence that holds that chain together is the Wholesale Dealer's Licence, usually written as WDA(H), issued by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
What the WDA(H) covers
A WDA(H) authorises a business to procure, hold, supply or export medicinal products for human use. It is not a formality. To hold one, a wholesaler must show the MHRA that it has suitable premises, trained staff, documented procedures and a named Responsible Person who oversees compliance with Good Distribution Practice (GDP).
Why it matters to buyers
When you buy from a licensed wholesaler you are buying into a system of checks: where the stock came from, how it was stored, and whether it can be traced if a recall happens. Buying outside that system exposes your business to falsified or poorly stored stock, and to regulatory risk of your own.
How to check a supplier in five minutes
Ask for the WDA(H) licence number and check it against the MHRA's public register of licensed wholesalers.
Confirm the licence covers the activities you need, such as export or the handling of cold-chain products.
Ask who the Responsible Person is and how quickly they can be reached about a quality issue.
Request a copy of the latest GDP certificate or inspection outcome.
Check that the trading name on invoices matches the licensed entity.
The bottom line
A licence number should be the first thing a supplier shows you, not the last thing you have to ask for. Acorn Pharmaceuticals operates under an MHRA wholesale dealer's licence and is happy to share its details with any pharmacy or clinic before you place a first order.
Talk to Acorn Pharmaceuticals: email gb@acornpharmaceuticals.co.uk or message us on WhatsApp.
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