Notify the pharmacy or veterinary in-house pharmacy to participate in the narcotics trade

If you run a pharmacy, you must register your participation in the narcotics trade with the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM).

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The federal portal provides information on administrative services at federal, state and local level. You can use it to deal with the authorities directly online.

For contact details of the responsible authoritiy and local valid information select under "Select location" a location.

If you run a pharmacy, you need a narcotics number. You can apply for this at the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM). This allows you to participate in the narcotics trade. The same applies if you are a veterinarian and run your own veterinary in-house pharmacy.

The following facilities must report their participation in the narcotics trade:

Individual pharmacies
network pharmacies
Hospital pharmacies
Veterinary in-house pharmacies

After registration, you will be assigned a narcotics number:

When setting up a new pharmacy, you will always receive a new narcotics number.
Successors to an existing pharmacy generally receive the narcotics number of the predecessor.
As the operator of a network pharmacy, you will receive narcotics numbers for your main and branch pharmacies.
Veterinarians generally receive their own narcotics numbers. This also applies if you take over an existing veterinary in-house pharmacy.

If you already have a narcotics number, you must notify the BfArM of any changes. You must report the following changes:

New establishment
Change of the operator
Change of legal form
Change in the name of the pharmacy or the operator
Change of address of the pharmacy or the operator
Closure
Waiver of participation in the narcotics trade

If you operate several pharmacies, you must also report the following changes

the conversion from main pharmacy to branch pharmacy
the conversion of a branch pharmacy into a main pharmacy

If you manage a hospital pharmacy, you must also report the following:

the change of name or address of the pharmacy manager
the change of a pharmacy manager

For pharmacists:

You run or manage a pharmacy.

For veterinarians:

You own a veterinary in-house pharmacy.
You have a valid operating license.
You have a valid veterinary in-house pharmacy certificate.

Required Documents
If you wish to register individual, group and hospital pharmacies, waive participation in narcotics traffic or report changes:
- Copy of the new operating license or
- written confirmation from the competent state authority that the previous operating license is still valid
- if available: already assigned narcotics number
- if the name of the person operating the pharmacy or the person in charge of the hospital pharmacy changes: copy of the name change or marriage certificate, if applicable
If you wish to register veterinary in-house pharmacies, notify us that you no longer wish to participate in the narcotics trade or notify us of changes:
- Copy of the new veterinary practice dispensary certificate or
- written confirmation from the competent state authority that the previous veterinary in-house dispensary certificate is still valid
- if available: already assigned narcotics number
- if the name of the person operating the veterinary practice dispensary changes: copy of the name change or marriage certificate, if applicable

You can notify the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) online or in writing of your participation in the narcotics trade, changes or withdrawal.

Report participation, changes or withdrawal online:

Go to the website of the federal portal and call up the online application.
- If you are submitting the application as a private individual, you will need an electronic ID document (e.g. the online function of your ID card) and a BundID account.
The online application will guide you step by step through the required information.
Upload the required documents as a file and send the application. The file must not be larger than 10 megabytes. The following file formats are accepted:
- PDF
- PNG
- JPEG
The BfArM will check your information and documents.
- If documents are incomplete, you will be asked to submit missing documents by e-mail. Incomplete procedures cannot be processed.
If all documents have been submitted, the BfArM will send you your narcotics number or a confirmation of your change by post.
You will also receive a notification of costs by post.
You pay the fees.

Report participation and changes in writing:

Go to the BfArM website and fill out the form "Notification for individual pharmacies, compounding pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, veterinary in-house pharmacies".
- To report a closure and a waiver of participation in narcotics traffic, use the form "Waiver of participation in narcotics traffic".
Print out the form or save it.
Sign the form and send it to the BfArM by post or e-mail.
The BfArM will check your details.
- If any documents are incomplete, you will be asked by e-mail to submit all missing documents. Incomplete applications cannot be processed.
Once all documents have been submitted, the BfArM will send you your narcotics number or a confirmation of your change by post.
You will also receive a notification of costs by post.
You pay the fees.

fee: 110 EUR - 250 EUR

You can submit the (new) operating license or the (new) veterinary in-house pharmacy certificate or a written confirmation from the competent state authority that they are still valid without delay. You must submit any changes immediately.