Apotheke, Betriebserlaubnis

If you want to open or take over a pharmacy, you must submit a written application for an operating permit.

In the documents to be submitted, you prove your qualification as a permit holder, prove that you have suitable business premises and affirm under oath that you comply with certain legal requirements.

It is advisable to contact the authority responsible for you before submitting your application in order to clarify the scope of the necessary documents for your application.

Required documents result from the Pharmacy Act.

You can clarify the nature and scope of the documents with the authority responsible for you.

A leaflet on the documents to be submitted with the application can be found on the website of the Darmstadt Regional Council:

The permit must be granted upon application if you meet all the requirements of § 2 of the Pharmacy Act.  

Prerequisites include:

• that the applicant has full legal capacity and

• the German license to practice medicine as a pharmacist and

• has the required reliability, and

• has suitable premises for the operation of a pharmacy.  

• You submit your written application to the competent authority.
• The Authority may request further documents.
• The type-approval is issued when the competent authority determines that the legal requirements are met.
• In the case of a new opening, an appointment is made for the acceptance inspection of the pharmacy ready for operation before the start of operations.

usually two to four weeks

The application should be submitted at least 4 weeks before the desired date for the granting of the permit.

• Objection
• Contradiction
• administrative court action

• Pharmacy may only be operated with permission
• Application must be made in writing
• Authority may request additional documents if necessary
• fees apply
• Responsibility: Regierungspräsidium Darmstadt, Dec. II 23.1 Pharmacy

Please contact the Hessian State Office for Health and Care (HLfGP).

Since 01.01.2023, the Hessian State Office for Health and Care (HLfGP) has been responsible.