Change of ownership

When the ownership of a pharmacy changes, it’s a legal requirement that you notify us. 

New owners

If you’re the new owner of a registered pharmacy, please complete and send us a notification of change of ownership of a registered pharmacy form to keep us updated.

As part of your application, you’ll need to complete the assessment in the form to show how you’ll meet the standards for pharmacies from the first day your pharmacy is open.

If you plan to operate a pharmacy service online, you’ll need to show us how you plan to meet our guidance for registered pharmacies providing pharmacy services on the internet.

Notification time limits

You can submit the form before the date of the change, but we must receive your notification within 28 days from when the change of ownership took place.

If the change is a result of the death of the sole trader or one of the partners, you have more time to submit your notification. We’ll need to receive it within three months of the date of death.

If you fail to notify us of the change of ownership within these time limits, we’ll remove the pharmacy premises from the register.

To restore the premises to the register, you’ll need to complete a restoration application and pay the restoration fee. Find out more on our restoring registration page.

Transfer date

This is the date on which you and your organisation becomes legally responsible for owning and operating the pharmacy. It’s important that this date is recorded accurately on the pharmacy register database.  If this date changes, you’ll need to notify us in writing.

Corporate bodies

If you’re applying on behalf of a corporate body, such as a limited company or NHS Trust that doesn’t currently own registered pharmacy premises, you’ll need to nominate a superintendent pharmacist.

You can find out more about how to do this on our nomination page.