Press Release: Internal market: infringement proceedings concerning Italy, Austria and Spain with regard to pharmacies

The European Commission on 28 June 2006 decided to take Italy to the Court of Justice on account of restrictions imposed by its national legislation on the acquisition of holdings in and ownership of retail pharmacies. The Commission also decided to make a formal request to Austria and Spain to amend their national rules relating to the setting-up of pharmacies. These three infringement procedures concerned a series of existing national restrictions relating to the opening and running of pharmacies.