Retail & Consumer Goods UK-wide

Run a retail pharmacy or optical business

Pharmacies and opticians are retail businesses regulated as healthcare providers. Pharmacy premises in Great Britain must be registered with the GPhC with a responsible pharmacist in charge whenever they are open. Optical businesses trading as opticians have General Optical Council duties. Ordinary retailers may sell only general-sale medicines in limited pack sizes.

Guide summary

Register your pharmacy premises with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) before you open. Have a responsible pharmacist in charge whenever the pharmacy is open. If you sell optical appliances, register your business with the General Optical Council (GOC).

  • Register pharmacy premises with GPhC (£1,088 new, £416 annual renewal)
  • Have a responsible pharmacist in charge whenever the pharmacy is open
  • Keep a visible notice showing the responsible pharmacist's name
  • Register with the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland if in NI
  • Register optical business with GOC if selling spectacles or contact lenses
  • Only sell spectacles or contact lenses under supervision of a registered optician
  • Sight tests must be done by a registered optometrist or doctor
  • General retailers can sell paracetamol only in packs of 16 or fewer tablets
  • Handle controlled drugs with strict records and safe custody
  • Appoint an Accountable Officer for controlled drugs if needed
On this page

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Selling medicines and optical appliances sits at the boundary of retail and healthcare. The thresholds matter: any retailer can sell general-sale medicines within pack-size limits, but Pharmacy (P) and Prescription Only (POM) medicines need registered pharmacy premises, and sight tests and contact lens fitting need registered professionals.

Register your pharmacy premises

Have a responsible pharmacist in charge

Handle controlled drugs correctly

Registered community pharmacies generally operate under the general authority in the misuse of drugs legislation rather than individual Home Office licences — but record-keeping and safe custody duties are strict.

Optical goods and General Optical Council duties

General-sale medicines for ordinary retailers

You do not need to be a pharmacy to sell paracetamol or antacids — but the limits are tight and the pack sizes matter.

Where these rules apply

The GPhC regulates pharmacy premises in Great Britain — pharmacies in Northern Ireland register with the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland instead. The General Optical Council and the medicines framework under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 are UK-wide. The retail spine — consumer rights, pricing, data protection — applies to the shop side of both professions. Pharmacies are also exempt from Sunday trading size restrictions in England and Wales when selling only medicinal products and medical and surgical appliances.

Official sources

The regulators for pharmacy and optical retail.